Page 13 of Flowers Go Flying in Crumbleton
‘Can I have everyone’s attention please?’
The shout came from behind her, along with the tinkling of a knife against a champagne glass. Milly whirled around only to spot a short man wearing a grey top hat standing in the doorway of the hotel. For some reason, he had a decidedly smug smile on his face.
‘The bride and groom kindly request that you all make your way back inside to join them – dinner is about to be served.’
‘You’re kidding me?!’ muttered Milly. How could they even think of going ahead with the reception while their best man was lying in an unconscious heap in the carpark?
It quickly became clear that she was the only one with such reservations, though. There was a sudden mass exodus towards the hotel, and Milly was jostled as guests barged past her, gossiping about what had just happened - sounding excited rather than concerned.
Feeling like a fish swimming against the tide, Milly moved further away from the hotel - crossing the car park. Everyone else might be happy to leave him to his fate now that the excitement was over, but someone had to make sure Murray was okay until the ambulance turned up!
‘Mills, where are you going?’ said Caroline, appearing in front of her.
‘I just want to check on Murray…’ she said quickly. ‘Is he still bleeding?’
‘Breathe, Milly!’ ordered Caroline, looking concerned. ‘I couldn’t see any blood… and don’t worry, the ambulance is just pulling in.’
Sure enough, it swung around the corner even as she said the words.
‘But… is there someone with him?’ she pressed on. That strange, dizzy sensation was washing over her again.
‘Yeah, don’t worry,’ said Caroline. ‘Ian’s with him. He’s the hotel’s first aider. The paramedics will sort him out – he’ll be okay.’
‘You think?’ said Milly, swaying slightly.
‘I know! Come on, I’m taking you inside,’ said Caroline, grabbing hold of her arm and starting to lead her back towards the door. ‘You’re as white as a sheet. You need a drink and something to eat. I had no idea you were such a delicate flower!’
Milly winced.
‘Bad choice of words there?’ said Caroline with a smirk.
Milly just shrugged and then paused again to watch as the ambulance made its way back out of the carpark. They’d certainly made short work of that! Considering there was no sign of Murray amongst the handful of people it had left in its wake, she could only guess that he was on board.
‘I might just go home,’ she said vaguely.
‘Rubbish!’ said Caroline. ‘You’re in no fit state to go anywhere. Besides - you can’t abandon me now. You just need some bad canapes inside you, and you’ll be as right as rain!’
Milly wanted to argue, but she simply didn’t have the energy. She let Caroline steer her back inside the hotel. Maybe she’d be able to slip away after the meal. She definitely wasn’t up for bopping around at the disco… especially considering any chance of dancing with Murray had just disappeared with the wailing of the ambulance’s sirens.
One glass of fizz, a bit of food… and then she’d make her way back up the hill towards home. Perhaps she’d stop in Bendall’s on her way, though. They had a special offer on ice cream at the moment – and right now, she could do with a tub or two!
CHAPTER 6
MURRAY
Murray closed his eyes. The greenish-bluey blur of the marshes sliding past the taxi window was making him feel a bit queasy. It was Monday morning… and he still wasn’t feeling quite right.
Also - how was it Monday already?!
He couldn’t believe he’d been stuck in the hospital for the entire weekend. According to the frazzled, overworked nurses who’d been in charge of him, Murray had still been unconscious when he’d arrived in the ambulance. Even when he did regain his faculties, it had taken him a little while to come around properly… and even longer for him to piece together what had happened.
As soon as the strong painkillers started to work their magic – taking his headache from full-on tympani to more of an annoying background bongo - Murray had asked to go home.
Fat chance of that, though!
The nurse had basically laughed in his face and told him he wouldn’t be going anywhere until he’d had his head scanned… and after that, he’d be sticking around for observation until he’d managed to convince the doctors he wasn’t about to keel over.
When Murray asked how long it would all take – an hour? or two? - she’d laughed again. Then she’d casually tossed the words “oh, probably about a week” over her shoulder as she’d beetled off to deal with another patient - who was loudly demanding strawberry jelly at the other end of the ward.
