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‘This will help,’ she says, lifting a glass of ice water to my dry lips.
I attempt to grasp the glass myself, a little embarrassed that Marcy is assisting me as if I am a toddler, but my hands are trembling and my ears are ringing, and I know I’d probably drop the glass if I held it independently.
I take small sips, and within seconds I feel better. Nate tugs at my coat and manoeuvres me out of it. My body temperate quickly lowers, and I start to feel better.
‘Nana’s tea,’ I say, looking at the mess on the floor beside me.
‘We can get more tea, Holly. Don’t worry,’ Marcy says. ‘Let’s just get you off the floor for now. Are you okay to stand?’
The crowd around us parts and dissipates, obviously content that the height of the drama has passed. Nate stands and helps me to my feet all at the same time. I flop against him, and he quickly slides his arm under mine and around my back, propping me up. He’s much taller than me, so it’s an awkward movement, but we manage to shuffle to the nearest empty seat together.
‘Did you bang your head?’ Marcy asks, crouching and peering into my eyes as if the answer to the universe’s questions are in my pupils.
‘Don’t think so,’ I groan, ‘but I’ve a horrible headache.’
‘That’ll be your blood pressure,’ Marcy explains.
‘She’s pregnant,’ Nate announces, worry lacing his tone.
Marcy nods knowingly, but she doesn’t say anything.
‘Is that why she fainted?’ Nate says. ‘Or stress. You’ve never fainted before, Hols. Never.’
‘Possibly,’ Marcy says breezily. ‘I wouldn’t worry, Nathan. Fainting in pregnancy is surprisingly common.’
I try to smile comfortingly at Nate, but I’m so wobbly I think I might slide off the chair if he takes his hand off my shoulder. He can see through my façade. I wonder if my expression has been as obviously worried and scared when I’ve looked at my mother and grandmother recently.
‘I’ve a friend upstairs in the maternity department,’ Marcy continues, pretending to be oblivious to the worry etched into the lines of Nate’s forehead. ‘I’m going to give her a call and see if we can squeeze you in for a scan today, Holly. Just to make sure everything is okay.’
An awkward silence falls over Nate and I, but neither of us makes any effort to stop Marcy from making that call.
‘You hold onto her, Nate,’ Marcy instructs, passing Nate the glass of water. ‘I’ve no mobile coverage in here. I’ll go out into the hall.’
‘Thank you,’ Nate whispers.
‘No problem,’ Marcy says, dragging her phone out of her handbag to wave it about over her head trying to get a signal. ‘I’ll grab some tea too. For Annie.’
‘Thank you,’ I breathe out, finally relaxing. ‘Thank you so much.’
I’m not just thanking Marcy for making a phone call. As she glances over her shoulder to wink at me, I’m content that she knows exactly how far those two simple words stretch.
TWENTY-SEVEN
HOLLY
Within twenty minutes, Nate, Marcy and I are on the third floor in the maternity department. The waiting-room seats are padded up here and make a welcome change from the horribly uncomfortable metal ones outside Nana’s room.
My phone beeps in my hand, and I read the incoming text from Ben. ‘Nana enjoyed her tea,’ I announce, content.
‘That’s good,’ Nate says.
‘Oh no, hang on.’ My face falls as I read on. ‘Ben says she only sipped three teaspoons.’
‘That’s about all she can manage now,’ Marcy explains. ‘But I bet she enjoyed it.’
I twist my phone around and show Marcy the long line of smiley-face emojis Ben sent in a follow-up message.
Nate glances over my shoulder. His stiff pose relaxes, and he nudges his arm against mine. ‘See. They’re all doing fine downstairs without you. Can you please relax, just for five minutes?’
