Sarah Morgan Summer Collection

Ethan replaced the phone just as Evanna popped her head round the door again. ‘The helicopter is here. The paramedics are bringing a stretcher in for you.’

‘I’ve spoken to the hospital and they’re expecting him.’ Ethan checked Doug’s observations again and then helped the paramedics move him onto the stretcher.

They loaded Doug into the helicopter, helped Leslie on board and then Ethan sprang up beside him in a lithe, athletic movement. ‘How do I get back?’

Kyla grinned. ‘If you’re lucky, they bring you back. If you’re unlucky, you swim. Don’t worry, the water’s quite warm at this time of the year. See you later, Dr Walker.’

She ducked out of range of the helicopter’s blades and made her way back into the surgery. Walking into the crowded waiting room, she explained what had happened and quickly assessed who could see her instead of a doctor.

‘Is Doug going to be all right?’ Paula Stiles, who worked in the gift shop, asked the question that was on everyone’s mind.

Patient confidentiality was a total nightmare, Kyla reflected as she gave as little information as possible while still providing the necessary reassurance.

Then she opened the door of her own room and switched on the computer. Interesting start to the day, she mused as she tapped a few keys and brought up her list for the morning. Not even nine o’clock and already she felt as though she’d done a day’s work.

And she didn’t want to think about how Ethan must feel. He’d travelled for most of the night to catch the first ferry and now she’d had to send him back to the mainland, and she knew from experience that he’d be lucky to make it back before lunch.

She hoped the new doctor had stamina because he was going to need it.

CHAPTER THREE

HER first patient was the headmistress from the local primary school, who had been hoping to see Logan and be back in time for the start of the school day.

‘I’m sorry you’ve had a wait, Mrs Carne,’ Kyla said, her tone apologetic as she reached for a pen. ‘If it’s your asthma that’s bothering you, I could discuss it with you and then we could talk to Logan later.’

‘It is my asthma.’ Ann Carne put her bag on the floor and sat on the chair. ‘I’ve been having problems on the sports field. Can you imagine that? I’m dealing with six-year-olds and I’m getting out of breath.’

‘Six-year-olds are extremely energetic,’ Kyla said dryly. ‘Don’t underestimate the impact that can have on your breathing. I went to sports day last year and I was exhausted just watching. So what’s happening? Are you using an inhaler before you exercise?’

‘Sometimes.’ Ann looked uncomfortable. ‘I try to sneak off to the staffroom but it isn’t always possible.’

‘Why would you need to sneak?’

‘I don’t want the children knowing I have an inhaler.’

Kyla looked at her, trying to work out what the problem was so that she could tackle it in a sensitive way. ‘Are you worried about them or you?’

‘Both?’ Ann gave a rueful smile. ‘I hate admitting I’m ill and I don’t want the children worrying that I’m going to collapse in front of them.’

‘Would they think that?’ Kyla frowned and tapped her pen on the desk. ‘There are a couple of asthmatics in your school, as you well know. The children are used to seeing inhalers and spacers.’

‘But not in their teachers.’

Judging that the situation was more about Ann than the pupils, Kyla sat back in her chair. ‘It’s nearly a year since you were diagnosed, Ann. How do you feel about it all now?’

There was a long silence and then Ann breathed out heavily. ‘I still can’t believe it’s me,’ she said finally. ‘I mean, I’m fifty-two years of age. It’s ridiculous! How can I suddenly develop asthma out of nowhere?’

‘People do. It isn’t about age. There are many other factors involved.’

‘Well, I can’t get used to the idea.’

‘Is that why you don’t use the inhaler?’ Kyla’s voice was gentle. ‘If you don’t use the drugs then you can’t be ill?’

‘How did you come to be so wise?’ Ann gave a faint smile. ‘I remember you when you were six years old, Kyla MacNeil. You brought a frog into my class and hid it in your desk.’

‘I remember. It was my brother’s frog. He was pretty annoyed with me.’

‘And he came thundering in to steal it back.’ Ann sighed. ‘I still think of myself as young, you know. I don’t feel any different. It’s only when I look in the mirror that I realise how many years have passed. And when my body starts letting me down.’

‘Your body is still ready to work perfectly well if you give it the little bit of help it needs.’ Kyla reached into her drawer for a leaflet. ‘Read this. A bundle arrived last week and I think it’s good. It talks about living with a condition rather than being ruled by it. You wouldn’t dream of not using a toothbrush and toothpaste, would you? All part of body maintenance. Well, your inhalers are the same. Body maintenance.’

Ann took the leaflet and gave a thoughtful smile. ‘Body maintenance. That’s a nice idea, Kyla.’

‘For the next two weeks, promise me you’ll use your inhaler as we agreed. Then come and see me and we’ll discuss how things are. But don’t hide it from the children. We try and teach the children that it can become a normal part of life. Something they can live with. If they see you hiding it then it won’t do much for their own acceptance of asthma.’

‘I hadn’t thought of that but you’re right, of course.’ Ann stood up and gave her a grateful smile. ‘You’ve come a long way since you made a mess of your geography books, Kyla MacNeil. Can I ask how Doug is or will you tell me to mind my own business?’

‘I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to tell my old headmistress to mind her own business.’ Kyla laughed. ‘But the truth is that it’s too soon for us to say.’ The entire island had obviously noted the arrival of the helicopter. ‘Our new doctor went with him. Hopefully we’ll have good news when he arrives back. I’ll remind Ben to pin a bulletin to the door of the pub.’

‘You do that.’ Ann gave a brisk nod. ‘We all care, you know.’

‘I do know,’ Kyla said with a soft smile. ‘That’s why I choose to live on Glenmore, Mrs Carne. Have a good day, now. And don’t let any of those little monsters bring frogs into the classroom.’

Ethan arrived back towards the end of her surgery, about an hour after her brother had returned from seeing Janet’s mother.

Kyla showed him into his consulting room and together the three of them swiftly cleared the remaining patients in the waiting room while Evanna played the role of receptionist.

‘Any house calls?’ Logan stifled a yawn as they finally collapsed at the reception desk.

‘Just the one. Helen McNair. Had some bad news from the hospital and wondered if you’d call.’ Evanna picked up the book. ‘I managed to persuade the rest of them to come to surgery this afternoon to save you going out again. I thought you’d need some time to show Dr Walker around.’

‘You talked someone out of a house call?’ Logan’s drawl was tinged with humour. ‘Evanna, consider yourself promoted, my angel. From now on you’re officially our receptionist and my favourite woman.’

Kyla noticed the betraying pink of Evanna’s cheeks and glanced towards her brother with sudden interest, but he’d picked up the latest copy of a medical journal and was flicking through the pages, apparently oblivious to the effect that his endearment had had on her friend.

Shaking her head with frustration, Kyla resisted the temptation to hit him over the head with a blunt object. Didn’t the entire Island population praise Logan for his amazing sensitivity? Didn’t everyone think her brother knew everything about everything and everyone?

Well, there were some things that he was totally dense about, Kyla thought wearily as she tucked a set of notes back into the cabinet. It had been almost a year since Catherine had died. Long enough. Sooner or later she was going to have to interfere.

Looking at the wistful expression in Evanna’s kind eyes, Kyla decided that it might just be sooner. ‘I had a visit from Ann Carne this morning.’ Dragging her mind back to the job in hand, she handed a set of results to her brother.

‘Did you, now?’ Logan leaned back in his chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him. ‘And how was our favourite headmistress?’

‘Still in denial. If she doesn’t learn to use those inhalers, she’s going to find herself in trouble.’

Logan nodded thoughtfully. ‘And did you speak to her about it?’

Kyla lifted an eyebrow. ‘What am I—stupid?’