Page 73 of Sherry and Sunflowers
"I have. How do you know?"
"The taste changed. It's metallic now." Her smile faded. Warmth was spreading up through her chest and into her face, and she could feel her cheeks flushing with it.
Caroline was watching her face closely. "Are you doing okay?"
"Yeah. Just a bit warm."
"A bit warm, or hot?"
She glanced over at Reaves, who had come forward to the edge of his seat, his elbows on his knees, hands clasped together between them. "I'm just warm. I'm okay. Honestly."
"That's normal. Tell me if it changes." Caroline stayed where she was, and Alara understood that the conversation, the easy chat about the cupcakes, and Faye, and the picnic basket had all stopped, and that this was the part where she was being watched.
Nothing changed. The warmth settled and then faded. "I feel back to normal now."
"Good," Caroline said eventually, and stood. "That's the bit I care about. Now it's just sitting." She pointed to a button on a cord looped over the arm of the chair. "I'll be in and out, but if you need me before I get back, that's what this is for. Press it for anything—if you feel sick, if you get any tightness in your chestor your throat, if you start itching, if your arm hurts where the line is. Anything at all, even if you think you're being silly."
"Okay."
"Especially if you think you're being silly." Caroline turned to Reaves. "And you. Any of that, or anything you don't like the look of, you come and get me. Don't wait to be sure."
"Got it," said Reaves.
Alara didn't have to look at him to know how pleased he was.
Caroline picked up her clipboard and paused at the door. "And no allergies, right?"
"No allergies."
"Just checking." She went out and pulled the door most of the way closed behind her.
Alara let her head fall back against the chair. "You can stop looking like that now," she said.
Reaves didn't move. "Looking like what?"
"Like you're going to catch me."
He glanced down at himself—elbows on his knees, hands clasped, right on the edge of the seat—and sat back with a rueful smile. "Sorry."
"Don't be." She turned her head so she could see him properly. "I don't hate it. I'm just not used to being watched like that."
"Well. You're going to have to get used to it." He got up and started to drag his chair around, then looked at the pole, and her arm with the line in it, and put it back. He sat on Caroline's stoolinstead, and wheeled himself around to her free side. "Is this allowed?" He picked up her other hand.
"I think so. She only said you had to do as you're told."
"That's what I'm doing. Nobody told me not to."
She laughed, and then had to stop, because laughing moved her arm. The line lay along the inside of her elbow, taped down, and she was aware of it in a way she couldn't stop being aware of. She looked at the ceiling instead.
"How long do you think it’s been?"
He checked his watch. "Four minutes."
"Four."
"Twenty-six to go."
"Don't do that."
