Page 41 of The Last Kiss

I glance at Liv who I think has something in her eye she’s blinking so fast. “Miss Brown?” he asks again, looking between us.

“Yes,” we both answer at once and he grins wide. More blinking from Liv.

“Which one?”

“Sisters.” I point between us. “But me.”

He comes closer and crouches down in front of us. Jesus, Doc, we aren’t five.

“I heard you had to rush off to get your child from nursery. I thought I could do,” he looks at me… just about noticing my existence. Hello! I’m the one who needs a heart! “Your sister’s appointment in reverse.”

“That is so kind.” Liv’s hand flutters to a blotch of flushed skin at the base of her throat. “But doesn’t she need to have all her tests?”

Dr Dreamy straightens from his crouch. “Come with me.”

We both stand to follow, like sister like sister, neither of us looking at anyone else in the waiting room.

He motions us into a bright room, warm sunlight slanting through blinds. “Please sit.”

Two arses hit plastic chairs.

“Please don’t worry. We run a very fluid clinic. As I’m sure you can imagine we get a lot of people in various states of health. Some of them we see on wards, those that are too ill to make it to consultation.” He smiles, gaze darting at Liv. “But you, Julianna, are lucky that you haven’t got that far yet.”

Lucky?

He peers at my file, flicking through the pages. “I spoke to Dr Francis last week on the phone. Can you give me a quick rundown?”

Ah, the please tell me in your own words just how shit it’s all been.

“I had meningitis two years ago.” I shrug. “The heart problems started quite soon after. I had trouble feeling like I was getting enough air. The doctors who treated my infection were stumped so I eventually got sent to the heart team. There they found out the meningitis had caused…” I try to say the word, almost feeling Liv roll her eyes next to me.

“Cardiomyopathy?” Dr Francis suggests.

“Yes, that. You’d have thought I’d have got something I could actually say.” I smile rubbing at my hot neck.

“And your symptoms now?” He flicks to another page. “How have you been the last couple of weeks?”

“Fine, all good.”

Liv elbows me and his smile flickers in her direction. He’s a beauty to look at, blonde and blue-eyed, and I know Liv will be coming to every appointment from now on if he’s the one sitting in the doctor’s chair.

She giggles.

I’m dying here. Now is not the time for flirty giggles.

“Sorry.” She pulls the neck of her jumper away from her throat, that flush burning up her skin, “She lies. She will tell you she’s fine when she really isn’t at all.”

I elbow her back. “Cheers, sis.”

Dr Simmonds chuckles. “It’s okay. Our tests find most things, even little white lies.”

I scrunch my face. “Okay, so the breathlessness is getting a little worse, nothing I can’t handle though. The irregular heartbeat is more frequent too.”

He nods.

“But really I don’t feel too bad. I think Dr Francis made a terrible mistake with my diagnosis.”

His smile drops. Ah, it’s time for the sympathetic look. “He didn’t, Julianna, but...” He flicks through my file again, scribbling something with the nib of his fountain pen. Liv clutches my hand sensing this is the moment. “If your tests come back positive, which I think they will, it doesn’t sound like your further organ damage has spread too far. Although we will be looking at your lungs, there is no reason why you can’t go on the list. I’ll confirm later on.” He smiles widely at Liv. “But you can go on the school run now knowing the news looks positive.”