Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“And you say you just discovered the patient?” he asked behind me.
“I arrived less than half an hour ago. She opened the door to me and fainted in my arms.”
I stepped aside as soon as we entered Sarah’s bedroom, and Dr. Garroway marched past to the bed.
“You have no idea how long she’s been like this?” he asked as he bent over and gently lifted her lids to check her eyes with his penlight. She groaned and tried to bat his hand away.
“I assume she was well enough three days ago. According to her very talkative neighbor, that’s when she arrived.” I’d need to have a word with Sarah about the old woman next door. She didn’t know me from Adam, but she’d practically told me Sarah’s entire itinerary since her arrival three days ago.
The doctor flicked me a look, a frown between his brows, but he didn’t say anything before turning back to Sarah. He checked her heart rate and then her temperature.
“Hmm.” He straightened and looked at me. “Her temperature is at 39° C. A little higher and I would suggest hospitalization, but for now, just keep an eye on her. Do you have a thermometer to monitor her fever?”
I shook my head.
“I’ll leave this one with you, then.” He placed it on the bedside. “If her fever spikes past 39.4°, call either the practice again or call NHS 24.”
“Is it the flu?”
“Yes, I believe so.” The doctor sighed. “I’m afraid there’s been a rather bad outbreak in the area. A few of the elderly have been hospitalized. Sarah has been hit pretty badly by it, but she’s young, and according to her records, she has no history of respiratory problems, so I’m optimistic she’ll be able to fight it off. You’ll need to make sure she’s drinking plenty of fluids, even if that means rousing her. Try to get her to eat, even if it’s just a bit of toast.”
He pulled a pad out of the folder he carried, along with a pen, and began scribbling. “There’s a pharmacy just up the road.” He pointed in the general direction of the village. “Here’s a prescription for paracetamol.” The doctor handed it to me, and it finally hit that I was going to have to play nursemaid to this stranger. “Sports drinks with electrolytes in them will help too. I can’t reiterate how important fluids will be in the speed of her recovery.”
“Fluids.” I nodded, looking down at the prescription. “Will she be okay while I nip out for these?”
“It’s just up the road,” Dr. Garroway repeated. “And remember, call if her fever spikes.”
Bloody hell. I looked at her small form and flushed face. How on earth had I become responsible for this human being?
Any slight indignation at the predicament I’d landed myself in I shoved away and got down to the business of making sure Sarah McCulloch didn’t end up in hospital. I pondered whether I should call her family, but then I remembered her grandfather recently died. There was a cousin, but I couldn’t remember his name. Her phone needed charged, so after I collected the paracetamol and some groceries, I returned to charge it. Unfortunately, she had a passcode, so I couldn’t get in to look at her contacts to call someone who would be a more appropriate care provider.
Instead, I made myself familiar with the small kitchen and filled one glass with water and another with a sports drink filled with electrolytes. I then climbed onto the bed beside Sarah and eased her light weight up against me.
“Wake up, little mouse.”
She groaned. “No.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Come on. I need you to take paracetamol and some fluids.”
Another groan as she nuzzled her hot cheek against my throat. Something like tenderness made my chest ache a bit. I ignored it. “I will shake you awake, little mouse, for your own good.”
“Go away,” she mumbled even as she burrowed closer.
“You asked for it.” I shook her and her eyes flew open.
For a moment, I felt caught in her surprising jade-green gaze. Her brow furrowed. “Mr. Cavendish?”
“Yes, as we’ve already established, I am, in fact, Mr. Cavendish. Now”—I reached for the two paracetamol on my lap—“open up and take these.”
“Why … w-why are you here?”
“That’s a discussion for another day. Take the pills.”
“W-what are they?”
“Paracetamol. The doctor said you need to take two every four hours to help bring your temperature down.”
“Doctor. Is … is that who stuck that thing in my mouth?”
I stifled my laughter. “That thing was a thermometer. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t let strange men stick things in your mouth for no reason. Now, take the tablets.”
“You’re filthy,” she muttered weakly, making me grin. Then she parted her lips and took the paracetamol.
“Water. Head back.” I pressed the glass to her lips and helped her swallow some down. She winced and tried to pull away after a second. “No, darling, you’re going to drink the whole lot.”