‘Her car’s still in the drive. I’ve called Agnes. Maybe one of her friends picked her up and they went out, but she’d already rearranged a one-on-one therapy session today because she knew we had this phone interview at twelve. I messaged her a reminder at nine and she replied with a thumbs-up, but she’s not answered any messages or calls since.’ Lizzie’s eyes widened.
It was hard to think clearly through the fog of dread. Where else would Hattie go? Somewhere near enough to walk, and to return in time for her interview.
‘Have you tried the chapel?’
Lizzie squinted at me. ‘Why on earth would she be there?’
I grabbed my still-soaking wet coat, hooked on Flapjack’s lead, in case he could sniff out what I couldn’t spot, and headed back into the snow.
* * *
We picked up a trail of footprints about halfway between the house and the chapel. Soon after that, Flapjack must have heard her. Ears pricking up, he began straining at the lead, dragging me the last few metres to the chapel door. I heard her too, once we’d tumbled inside and the door had swung shut behind us.
I dropped Flapjack’s lead and he raced over to the far corner, where a crumpled heap twitched and groaned in response to his fretful licking.
‘Hattie!’ I swiftly followed him as she began clumsily pushing herself up, releasing a hiss of pain.
‘Lizzie will be fuming,’ she groaned as I bent down to help her into a sitting position.
‘She was worried about you.’ Searching for Lizzie’s number in my phone, I hurriedly sent her a message to confirm I’d found Hattie.
‘Do you have any meds I can get you?’
Hattie, hunched over her middle, grey curls hanging over her face, shook her head.
‘Okay, so are you able to tell me what’s going on? Or should I call 999?’
‘Give me a minute.’ Her hand was surprisingly strong as she reached out to grip mine. I sat down beside her, leaning against the cold chapel wall as Hattie rocked back and forth, clearly in absolute agony.
After what felt like the longest two minutes of my life, she blew out a long sigh and straightened up a few inches.
‘I think it’s probably time I told you,’ she said, her voice hoarse. If I’d taken time to think, I’d have brought some water. ‘This isn’t all the menopause.’
‘Yes. I had worked that out.’
‘It appears as though I’m dying.’
I’d been expecting it, but the blow knocked the air out of my chest all the same.
‘If you could help me back to the house, I think it’s time to call my doctor. And then I need to make up some excuse to Lizzie about my ditziness derailing yet another meeting.’
‘She doesn’t know?’
A bead of sweat trickled down Hattie’s face as together, we hauled her to her feet.
‘I’ll tell her when I’m ready.’
‘I think—’
‘I’m not ready.’ Her jaw clamped shut, ending the conversation.
‘What about the Gals?’ I asked as we hobbled back, gripping each other’s hands and avoiding the icier patches where we could.
‘I think Laurie’s guessed something’s up, but she knows I’ll tell herwhen I’m ready.’
‘Gideon?’
Nothing but a grim shake of her head.
