The Garden of Lost Secrets by Kerry Barrett

Author:Kerry Barrett [Barrett, Kerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-25T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Gloria

I had been sent on yet another errand by the summer fair committee. This time I’d been sent to collect umbrellas from just about every house in the village because my mother had the idea that if it rained on the day we could somehow string them up across the green to provide shelter.

The heat showed no sign of breaking, so I thought rain was unlikely, but Mother liked to be prepared. So I’d spent the day gathering brollies and delivering them to the village hall. And now I was hot and tired and a bit grumpy to be honest, so I’d found a spot in the shade at the edge of the green and I lay down on the grass.

I’d started out reading my book, but quite quickly I dropped it on to my chest and dozed, the sounds of the village washing over me as my mind drifted.

And then an ear-piercing wail split the peaceful afternoon.

Startled awake I sat up suddenly to see the telegram boy – David – cycling past me. My heart clenched with sadness and I scrambled to my feet.

‘David?’ I said as he went by. He stopped riding and put his toes on the ground to steady himself.

‘Millicent Hayes,’ he said. ‘Her Sidney.’

‘Sidney,’ I breathed. ‘Poor sod.’

David gave a little nod and carried on cycling, and I looked across the way to where there was a bit of a kerfuffle happening outside the village hall. I could see Mr Fingal gesturing and a small group of people gathering, and as I walked towards them I could hear panicky voices.

‘Call an ambulance,’ someone was saying. ‘Or run for the doctor.’

Millicent was sitting on the bench outside the hall, where I’d sat with my mother not so long ago. Her face was grey, and she was gasping for breath.

‘She’s having a heart attack,’ Mr Fingal said. His voice was shaky. ‘Gloria! Run for Dr Christie. Millicent’s had a shock.’

I turned to run, but behind me were Eugene and another airman whose name, I knew, was Stanley Silver but whom I’d never spoken to.

‘What happened?’ asked Eugene. ‘Was it her who was screaming?’

‘Her husband’s been killed.’

Stanley grimaced.

‘I’m going for the doctor,’ I said. ‘Mr Fingal says she’s having a heart attack.’

Stanley put his hand out to stop me leaving. ‘She’s not having a heart attack,’ he said. ‘Let me help.’

He walked over to where Millicent sat, and crouched down in front of her. He took her hands in his and Millicent didn’t object. She was still taking shuddering, raspy, shallow breaths and her gaze was vague. I thought she might be about to pass out and the thought scared me. Was Mr Fingal right? Was she having a heart attack?

‘Millicent is it?’ he said. He looked round at me, and I nodded.

‘Millicent,’ he said, looking straight at her. ‘Millicent, you’ve had a fright. A bad one. And it’s made your heartbeat a little off.’

Millicent put her hand to her chest.

‘That’s it,’ said Stanley soothingly. ‘We need

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