‘All right.’ Mac handed the empty syringe back to his brother. ‘Now we’re going to immobilise the leg, Vera. Josh, what have you got in your bag of tricks?’
‘We could do a figure-of-eight bandage around the ankles and use triangular bandages for padding,’ Josh muttered, delving in his bag and pulling out various bits and pieces.
‘Great.’ Mac reached for the triangular bandages and rolled them up. ‘I’m going to use these as padding, Vera, and then I’m going to bandage your ankles to give you some support.’
Louisa stood up. ‘While we’re waiting for the ambulance, I’m just going to check upstairs that the lighting is good and that the carpet isn’t worn. I want to check that you didn’t fall over anything, Vera.’
She didn’t want the same thing happening to Alice.
‘Good thinking.’ Mac shot her a look of approval and she blushed.
Bother.
He only had to glance in her direction and she turned into a jittery teenager in the throes of her first crush.
What was happening to her? Usually she found it all too easy to keep men at a distance. But with Mac it was different. Everything felt different.
Trying not to think about what her reaction might mean, she sprinted up the stairs and flicked on the light, squinting up at the bulb.
‘Well, the light’s strong enough and the carpet is fine,’ she said eventually, ‘but this rug is lifting at the corners. Could you have caught your foot on it, Vera?’
‘I don’t know,’ Vera said weakly. ‘Maybe. Silly me.’
‘What were you wearing on your feet?’ Mac’s tone was even and Alice clucked.
‘Those stupid slippers! I’ve told you to throw them away so many times.’
‘And you were right as usual.’ Vera closed her eyes and Mac frowned.
‘How’s the pain?’
‘I’ll cope.’
‘In other words, it’s bad,’ he said softly. ‘You’ll be more comfortable as soon as we get you to hospital. I can give you something else.’
‘I’m going to roll up this rug and put it out of the way,’ Louisa called, stooping to remove the rug just as the ambulance arrived with the stretcher.
Alice was hovering anxiously. ‘Can I go with her to the hospital?’
Josh nodded. ‘I’ll give you a lift. Mac?’
‘I’ll go in the ambulance.’
Louisa came back down the stairs and looked at him in surprise. For someone who claimed not to have time to worry about what happened to patients outside the department, he was showing an admirable degree of concern for Vera.
She cadged a lift in the ambulance with Mac, noticing how kind he was to the old lady. He helped the paramedics make her comfortable and then gently placed an oxygen mask over her face.
‘Just breathe normally, Vera,’ he instructed quietly, ‘it will help.’
‘You’re a dear boy,’ Vera murmured, patting his hand, ‘and I’m so glad you’re living with Louisa. It’s time. After my Fred died I could never imagine finding anyone else and now, of course, I’m too old for anyone to look at me. I’m so pleased for you. You deserve to meet a nice girl.’
Mac opened his mouth and closed it again. ‘Just try and relax,’ he said gruffly, as he threw Louisa a baleful look.
She gave a weak smile. He was going to kill her later.
They arrived in A and E and Vera grabbed Mac’s hand. ‘Are you going to stay with me? I trust you.’
Louisa watched as something flickered across Mac’s face. Then his hand wrapped around the old lady’s. ‘I’m staying,’ he said gruffly, and Vera closed her eyes with a smile.