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‘You have some concerns that you’d like to share with us.’
‘I do.’ Amina clasped her hands together in her lap. ‘I have an idea where Safiyah may have caught TB.’
There was nothing on Thea’s face, apart from polite interest. ‘In terms of contact tracing, we promise absolute discretion.’
‘That is not quite what I had in mind.’ Amina smiled. ‘I am worried for that person.’
This wasn’t quite the way that Lucas had been expecting the conversation to go. At least Thea seemed to be keeping up and not showing the surprise that he felt.
‘Amina, can you explain this to me a little more?’
Amina nodded. ‘My sister’s child has been unwell for some months now. The doctor said that it was a winter virus, and then that she had developed a slight case of pneumonia.’
‘And she’s no better now?’
‘The doctor said that it would take a while to resolve. I told my sister that it was taking too long, but…’ Amina shrugged. ‘Mariam is still not fully recovered.’
‘And she’s not been referred to the hospital?’ Maybe Lucas imagined the flicker of annoyance in Thea’s face, it was so fleeting. She had every cause. There really was no excuse for a GP in central London not considering TB in this context.
‘I urged her to insist. But she does not. She will do what the doctor tells her, over her own sister.’
‘And Mariam and Safiyah are close? They see each other regularly?’
‘Yes, they do.’
Thea smiled. ‘Then we have no problem. Mariam will have to be tested for tuberculosis as part of the testing we’ll need to do for all of Safiyah’s contacts.’
‘In ten weeks’ time? She will have to wait that long?’
‘No. Who told you ten weeks?’ Lucas reckoned he knew the answer to that question.
Amina’s gaze dropped to the carpet. ‘Safiyah and your daughter have…they message each other. Safiyah told me.’
Thea grinned, and the tension that had suddenly filled the room wound back down again. ‘Well, Ava’s absolutely correct, we do normally wa
it, because ten weeks is the incubation period for the infection. But if someone is showing symptoms it’s quite a different matter. I will do what’s necessary to make sure that your niece is seen straight away.’
‘Thank you.’ Amina smiled. ‘I appreciate that. My sister will do what is best for Mariam, but she may delay. The…shame.’
‘There’s no shame in any of this, Amina.’
‘I know. Others don’t think so. I had a call from one of the parents at school this morning. She was very apologetic but said that she was sure I would understand that it would not be appropriate for Safiya to come to her daughter’s birthday party.’
‘When’s the party?’ There was a trace of anger in Thea’s tone.
‘In six weeks’ time.’
‘Look, Amina, I haven’t seen Safiyah and so I can’t give an opinion on her particular case. But, in general, once a patient has been on the drug regime for two weeks, they’re not infectious. When Safiyah’s doctors give her the all-clear, it’ll be perfectly all right for her to go to whatever party she wants to.’ Thea was keeping her outrage under wraps. But it was there, like a hard backbone of truth in what she said.
‘This is what they have told me.’ Amina’s mother shrugged miserably. ‘But what can I do?’
Anger flashed in Lucas’s heart. That well-worn organ, which had been jerked out of its enforced rest from the first moment he’d seen Thea again.
‘You can help me, Amina. My daughter wants to see Safiyah, and I won’t deny her the opportunity to see her friends because of someone’s prejudice. As soon as Safiyah is non-infectious, I’d be grateful if you and your family would come to my house for a meal.’
‘I…’ Amina’s self-control broke, and she looked suddenly flustered. ‘I appreciate your offer, but the drugs make her sick.’
‘I understand that. I’m a doctor, I can deal with that. What I can’t deal with is irresponsible people who act out of prejudice. I won’t deny my daughter the opportunity of seeing her friends just because someone who doesn’t know the facts thinks it’s a good idea.’
