the cards on the mantelpiece.
She added the new decorations from the tree to her own, wondering what to do with Jay’s present. She had no idea when, if ever, would be the right opportunity to give it to him.
Since the adrenaline of the wedding she’d had more time to reflect on what had happened with Ben. Jay was obviously still hung up about Nadia, and Lottie wanted a fresh start. No matter how much she wanted it to be with Jay, it was never going to work for them.
With Steph’s future uncertain and her hopes for Jay at rock bottom, no sparkle from the Christmas tree or music on the TV could lift her mood. Rain hammered against the windows and she could hear the beck rushing down past the end of the garden. She was mulling over whether to have a Baileys to cheer herself up when there was a knock at the door.
Her first thought was that it might be Shayla popping by but when she opened the door, she found Jay, standing in the rain in only a T-shirt and jeans.
‘Jay!’
He leaned against the doorframe, white as a sheet and held his head in his hands. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘It’s Seb. He’s in intensive care. It’s meningitis and they’re not sure he’ll make it.’
Chapter Forty
Lottie virtually dragged him into the hall. ‘Oh God, I’m so sorry. Come in, out of the rain.’
It was then Jay realised that his face wasn’t wet because of rain but from tears of shock. He rubbed his hand over his eyes. ‘Sorry. Dad only called a few minutes ago. I ignored all of Ben’s calls … That’s why my dad had to phone me. Oh God, Lottie, what have I done?’
She didn’t hesitate. ‘Nothing, but you can do something now. I’ll drive you to the hospital in the truck. Get your coat.’
‘I – do you really think they’ll want me there?’ Jay seemed frozen. ‘I’m desperate to go but he’s not my little boy. Jesus they must be out of their minds. They might lose him.’
‘Would you want them at your side?’
‘Yes. Yes. Of course!’
‘Then you have your answer. I’ll take you now.’ She held his arms, looking into his face. ‘Come on, let’s go.’
Grabbing her own coat, she herded him out of the door and into his cottage where Trevor was watching them from his blanket on the carpet. Trevor sat up with a hopeful whine.
‘Not this time, Trevor,’ Lottie said, ruffling his ears. She found Jay’s jacket, ‘Put it on,’ she ordered.
Minutes later, Jay was hunched in the passenger seat, staring zombie-like out of the front window.
‘Do you know when Seb was taken ill? Ben didn’t say anything last night,’ she said, steering the truck smoothly out of the gates and onto the public road.
‘No …’ Jay was crushed by the story his dad had told him. ‘Apparently Seb was a bit under the weather last night though Nadia thought it was just a cold.’
‘Oh no.’ Lottie’s knuckles whitened on the wheel.
‘Seb seemed better this morning but then he went downhill after dinner and developed a rash this afternoon. They called an ambulance and it rushed him off to hospital. They must be out of their minds with worry.’
‘He’s in the best hands.’ She steered the truck between the dry-stone walls of a narrow lane that was a short cut to the A road. The wipers swished furiously, barely coping with the rain.
‘What if it’s not enough?’
‘You have to hope it will be. They’ll be doing absolutely everything to save him.’
‘But they might not be able to. You know that, Lottie.’
‘Try not to think the worst. Ben needs you to be strong and positive for him. If something terrible happens, then he’s going to need you to be even stronger.’
‘Poor Nadia,’ he murmured, thinking of the agony his ex must be going through. ‘No one deserves this … and oh God, my mum and dad will be beside themselves with worry.’
‘All the more reason for you to be there to support them.’
It was an agonising journey, made worse by the roads being so wet. Lottie did brilliantly with the strange vehicle, but they couldn’t risk rushing too much and at one point, she had to negotiate through a flooded section.
On the journey, Jay texted his parents and received a reply from his father, saying they were ‘hoping for the best’, whatever that meant. He guessed his dad was putting on a brave face for the rest of the family. Seb was