Chapter Thirteen

Annie's eyes widened when she saw Danny sitting drinking tea as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He looked hellish. His skin actually looked grey. His head must he banging, she thought, so why was he here?

“There's a pot made, Annie,” Gordon informed her. “Danny's dropped over to see you.”

Annie smiled through gritted teeth. “I can see that,” she nodded to acknowledge him, “hello, Danny.”

She could see when he realised that she was still wearing the dress she wore to the wedding and that fact appeared to seriously irk him. Annie knew he'd be able to figure out who she'd been with last night.

“Well, I'll leave you two to talk, then.”

Gordon dropped his cup into the sink filled with hot bubbly water. He smiled softly as he passed Annie in the doorway.

“You need to leave now,” Annie didn't mince her words, “or I'll call the police.”

Danny raised his hands. “I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm here to apologise for last night. I was in the wrong, I admit that.”

He hesitated before adding, “But you look fine, and clearly didn't spend much time thinking about it last night.”

“That's right.” Annie added, “I didn't give your pathetic behaviour a second thought,” Annie relished the victory, “and Matty, do you speak for him too?”

“He was out of order, I know; but seeing you throws up so many bad feelings…”

Annie threw her bag onto the table. “I didn't kill his mother!” Her words stung like a red rag to a bull and Danny leapt up from his seat, but this time Annie didn't recoil in fear.

“Come on, then,” Annie yelled even though her heart thundered in her chest.

Before their war of words could escalate, a sickening scream echoed round the yard and Annie raced outside to see her dad on the ground, thrashing and jerking in the midst of a full-blown seizure. Billy heard the commotion and hurtled over to Gordon's side.

“Gordon!” Billy reached for his hand. “Gordon, can you hear me? Get an ambulance,” he screamed at Annie who stood motionless with shock.

“I'll do it,” Danny banged 9-9-9 into his phone while Annie froze with her hands clasped to her face.

When the seizure ended, Billy checked for his pulse and leaned his ear close to Gordon's mouth. It was when he commenced CPR that Annie snapped back into focus.

“Dad,” she cried out and dropped to the ground by his side. “Dad, don't worry the ambulance is on its way.”

She watched helplessly while Billy tried to bring her dad round from his collapse. It felt like forever until Billy rolled Gordon onto his side when he started breathing again. Annie's tears became whimpers at the sight of her dad lying there. Billy exhaled loudly and wrapped his arm round her while they waited for the ambulance, neither one of them speaking. Danny could see that it was time to leave and walked away from them without uttering goodbye. Annie didn't want him. She hadn't wanted him for a very long time.

“I'll follow behind in the car,” Billy promised and Annie nodded as she jumped into the back of the ambulance with her dad.

She took hold of his hand and rubbed it softly against her cheek, her words choked through tears. “Dad, I'm here; don't worry.”

The closest hospital was only five miles away and Gordon Marshall was rushed for a CT-scan as soon as he arrived. Annie paced up and down the waiting room until Billy arrived and threw his arms around her to allow her to sob into his chest.

“Is there any news yet?” Billy asked.

Annie pulled herself out of his embrace and wiped her face.

“He's in CT; the doctor said they'll tell me more when they've looked at his brain scan.”

By the time Annie finished her sentence, her words disappeared into a flurry of soggy tears and Billy took firm hold of her again in his huge arms.

“Hey, let's not worry until there's something to worry about,” he rubbed her back,” that's what my mum used to say anyway.”

Annie tried to force a smile and pulled a tissue from the box on the reception desk.

“I know,” she blew her nose, “it's just, I've only just got him back…”

Before either of them could speak again, the doctor walked towards them with a sombre look on her face. Annie's heart raced as she squeezed Billy's hand in hers.

“Hello, I'm Dr. Morgan.” She held out her hand to Annie. “The CT-scan of your dad's brain shows a clot that needs emergency surgery. Now, we don't have the facilities here so there's a helicopter on it's way to take him to Edinburgh, where it's hoped we will be able to relieve the pressure on his brain.”

She stared at Annie who was unable to get her words out.

“Do you understand? It will be here in fifteen minutes, and he should be in Edinburgh within the hour.”

“Yes, she understands,” Billy interrupted. “Does Annie go with him in the helicopter?”

“Yes, the nurse will show you where to go. Good luck.”

Dr. Morgan moved off leaving Annie trying to come to terms with the information.

“Can you follow me?” The nurse ushered Annie out of Billy's arms and out the door towards the spot the helicopter would be landing in very soon. She didn't even have time to say goodbye.

1 September 1996

It was my first day of college yesterday. Our first term is maths and English stuff and a bit of science. It's so much better than school. The teachers want us to call them by their first names. Imagine if we had to call Mrs. Finch, Patricia and Mr. Sullivan, Robert. That would have been weird. I told Kate and she thought it was hilarious. She's gone back to school to get some highers but then she did really well in her standard grades; she got nine in all after being put in for a couple of extra ones. She's so smart. Maybe she'll be a doctor or a lawyer. I managed to pass two of my standard grades but I suppose it's better than nothing. I'm just choosing a different route than Kate, that's all. I'll probably move onto something else after this course but I don't know yet. Rita assures me that I've still got loads of options and she wishes it was like this when she was my age. Yes, she's got a successful business now but she's worked very hard for it. When she started out, she swept hair in a salon for a horrible woman—that fucking bitch, she used to call her. At least I sweep up hair for a lovely woman. One of the old ladies let me wash her hair for her the other day. She reminded me of Granny Gladys with her short, permed hair that she gets done once a week. Rita and I have pizza every Friday from the takeaway that's just opened up. It's called Marco's and he's pretty hot. His family is Italian and the pizza is so good. There's a bunch of nice kids in my class but I don't know if we've got a lot in common. We'll see how it goes. I just want to get on with it and put Carrlochry behind me. I don't have that same ache for Danny now, and I don't have any bad feelings for him. I hope he's okay.