Headlong by Samantha Black

Author:Samantha Black [Black, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Keeping Evie occupied was the best way of dealing with the situation, she decided. Evie’s mom would be much more likely to be able to keep herself together if her daughter looked okay.

Noah flew a short way over the water. Abby pointed out the view from the window and engaged a pale Evie in looking for whales. Evie’s mom smiled wanly when Evie spotted one and squealed in excitement. She kept her lips firmly shut however, and as Evie turned her face to look out the window, Abby could see her chin quivering.

When they were over the desert again, they tried to spot kangaroos. Evie wasn’t quite so excited about the kangaroos, but it still took her mind off her headache and stopped her from freaking out at her swollen leg.

Abby could see outlines of buildings in the distance when Evie lay back and went quiet.

Her mother grasped the edge of the stretcher so hard her knuckles went white. “Evie, wake up,” she cried. “Oh God, oh God.”

“It’s okay,” Abby said, forcing her voice not to waver. “We are minutes away. I can see the hospital. Evie, can you hear me?”

The little girl nodded her head and whispered a quiet “Yes.”

“How old are you Evie?”

“I’m seven and three-quarters.”

“So you’re going to turn eight soon? Wow, that’s nearly double digits! Will you have a birthday party?”

Evie nodded. “Yes, but Mum says I can only have three friends to sleep over and I want to invite Sammy and Alex too.” Her voice was quiet, but she was still talking. Abby kept going, not sure what else to do but to keep the girl awake and conscious.

Her mum made a funny hiccupping sound. “Honey, you can invite them too, okay? And I’ll order that cake you wanted. The big one from the store with three layers.”

Evie turned her head slowly and a small smile crept onto her face. “Really?” Her voice was still quiet but there was no mistaking the tinge of excitement in her voice. Abby’s heart was in her throat. She had to keep Evie awake. “That sounds like a great cake, Evie. What flavor is it?”

“It’s chocolate. And it has pink icing.”

“Yum. Is chocolate your favorite cake flavor?”

“Yes.” Her voice was even quieter now.

Abby could see the hospital roof now, looming closer. “Chocolate is my favorite, too,” she said. “What flavor is the pink icing?”

“Raspberry,” Evie murmured back.

The helicopter touched down. As soon as the engines were cut, a team of medics were opening the double doors and hauling out the stretcher with Evie on it. Evie’s mother paused just long enough to clasp Abby’s hand warmly and stutter out a few teary words of thanks before she rushed after her daughter.

In a few moments, all was still and calm again. Abby looked around at the now-deserted rooftop and took a deep breath. She felt as if she had run an entire marathon.

Noah had jumped down from the pilot’s seat and came to stand beside her.

“She’ll be okay,” he said.

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