The Nurse's Wedding Rescue (Lakeside Mountain Rescue 2)

‘Is that what you think people do?’

‘All the time.’ Anna slouched in her chair, her expression defiant. ‘It’s always, “Anna have you done your peak flow?” or, “Anna have you got your inhaler?” just before I go clubbing. And it’s always while my friends are standing there.’

‘And how does that make you feel?’ Helen asked casually.

‘Embarrassed. Different. Like some sort of freak.’

‘Why don’t you tell me what happened on Friday?’

Anna shrugged and picked some imaginary fluff off her sleeve. ‘It was hockey. I’m good at hockey. We were winning and then suddenly I couldn’t breathe.’ She broke off and her eyes filled with tears. ‘And the next thing I knew they’d driven an ambulance onto the school field. It was the most humiliating experience of my life.’

‘Do you like hockey?’

‘Yes, and now I suppose you’re going to tell me I can’t do it because of my asthma.’

‘Not at all.’ Helen opened her door and reached for a pad and pen. ‘In fact, you shouldn’t have to limit your physical activity at all providing your asthma is controlled—but yours obviously isn’t. I like your shoes, by the way.’

Anna glanced down at her feet, obviously taken aback. ‘You do?’

‘They’re great. Everyone is wearing them in London.’

Anna looked at her suspiciously. ‘You’re different from the usual nurse. She was at school with my mother. You don’t look much older than me.’

‘I’m twenty-five,’ Helen told her, ‘so it isn’t that long since I was a teenager.’

Anna stared at her for a long moment. ‘It isn’t just the exercise that gets me.’

‘What else?’

‘There’s this boy.’ She bit her lip, her cheeks suddenly flushed. ‘He’s asked me out a few times but I keep saying no. He’s so cool,’ Anna breathed, ‘but how can I go out with him? He doesn’t know I have asthma. Where do I put an inhaler on a date?’

‘Well, it depends on the date,’ Helen said practically. ‘Let’s take it one step at a time. Why don’t you want him to know you have asthma?’

‘He’ll think I’m pathetic.’

‘Then he’s probably not that cool,’ Helen said gently. ‘And as for where you put the inhaler on a date, what’s wrong with your handbag?’

‘I don’t want anyone to see.’

‘The better controlled your asthma, the less likely you are to have an attack like the one last Friday.’

Anna breathed out heavily. ‘All right, then. What does it take?’

‘We can look at a few things together. We need to monitor your asthma. Do you think you could keep a diary for a couple of weeks? Monitor your peak flow and your symptoms?’

Helen used the pad and paper to illustrate what she was suggesting and talked to Anna about her peak-flow technique.

‘And you reckon if I do all that, I can play hockey without dying on the field.’

Helen smiled. ‘I would certainly hope so. Why don’t we give it a go? Come back and see me again next week. In the meantime, make a note of everything that’s worrying you and we’ll chat about it.’

Anna stood up. ‘And you think I should say yes to that date?’

‘If he’s that cool, definitely,’ Helen said firmly, and Anna grinned.

‘I’ll keep you posted.’

‘You do that.’