Mollie Cinnamon Is Not a Cupcake (13 page)

When I wake up the following morning, the curtain is slightly open and a ray of sunlight is shining on the painting of Red Moll. Still half asleep, I think it’s Granny Ellen in the picture for a second. Then I lie in bed for a while, thinking about Granny Ellen and then about Flora. I wonder if she has read my email yet. I get up to see.

Nan’s laptop is on my desk so I log into my email. Yes! A reply. That was quick. I click on it, feeling excited.

“Morning, Mollie.” Nan is standing in her favourite place − with her back to the Aga, warming her bum – when I walk into the kitchen.

“Morning.” The table is all set for breakfast, with delicious-looking breakfast muffins, but even that doesn’t lift my mood.

“What has your mum said now?” Nan asks.

“What do you mean?”

“The long face. I’m guessing it has something to do with Flora. She’s not coming to see you, is she?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Nan sighs. “I’m going to have a word with her, pet, remind her of her responsibilities. That girl needs a good shake sometimes.”

“Don’t bother! You told me to email her, tell her how I felt. Well, I did what you said and it didn’t make any difference. All she thinks about is her stupid career and her stupid new boyfriend. She doesn’t listen to a word anyone else says.”

“I know it must seem that way, but it’s not true. Come here to me.” She reaches out to give me a hug, but I dodge her arms.

“You’re just as bad. Flora told me the truth about having to beg you to let me stay. I know you don’t want me here, so I’ll try to keep out of your way. If I had somewhere else to go, I would. But I don’t.”

“Mollie—” I’m out of the front door before she gets the chance to say anything else.

Nan follows me. “Please don’t run off again. Yes, I had reservations about having you to stay. But it’s not for the reasons you think. I love having you here.”

I pick up speed, but she’s not giving up.

“Mollie, please come back!” Nan runs after me. “I need to explain.”

“Leave me alone! I hate you all!”

“Mollie!” she calls after me. “Mollie!”

I ignore her and sprint down the lane and onto the road. I don’t stop until I’m at the gate that leads to Red Moll’s castle.

I check behind me to make sure Nan isn’t following. She’ll definitely look for me in the cafe, so I climb over the gate and walk towards the castle. I’m completely fed up – with Flora and with Nan. Lauren was right – no one wants me. And it hurts. My eyes sting with tears. It’s like when I first arrived all over again. Except it’s not, not really.

I stare down at the roof of the Songbird and think about how kind Alanna’s been to me. Nan too, if I’m being honest. Even if she didn’t want me here in the beginning, she’s always made me feel welcome.

I think about my new friends, Sunny and Landy. When I first got to the island, I hated Landy for laughing at me and making me feel like a complete outsider. But things are different now – it’s almost like I belong.

I shouldn’t have shouted at Nan. I have to go back and talk to her, tell her I’m sorry.

I get an awful fright when I find Nan halfway down the lane, collapsed on the ground. Her eyes are closed and she’s clutching her chest. I’ve never seen anyone look so grey and sick.

“Nan!” I cry. “Nan!” I crouch down beside her and shake her gently, but there’s no response. Has she had a heart attack? Oh no! It’s all my fault. If I’d stayed and listened to what she had to say instead of running off, she wouldn’t have dashed after me.

My hands shaking, I pull out my mobile and find Landy’s number, praying that he picks up. It rings several times.
Answer,
I beg.
Please answer
.

“Hey, Mollie, what’s up? You’re lucky you caught me. I’m on my way to maths class.”

“It’s Nan,” I say in a rush. “She’s unconscious. I don’t know what’s happened. Help me, please. She won’t wake up.”

“It’s going to be all right, Mollser. Stay with her. I’ll ring Dad. He’ll know what to do. Where are you?”

After I tell him, he rings off with another, “It’ll be OK.”

Nan stirs a little and moans.

Tears prick my eyes as I put my arms around Nan. “Please get better,” I murmur. “Please, Nan.”

Bat’s jeep comes racing up the lane, sending dust and small stones flying. He stops and then jumps out of the driver’s seat.

“How’s Nan doing, Mollie?” he says, sprinting towards us.

“Not great,” I say. “I think she’s finding it hard to breathe.”

Bat hunkers down and looks at Nan. He strokes her head gently. “Hang in there, Nan. Help’s on the way.”

Nan’s eyelids flutter, but she doesn’t open them. At least she seems able to hear him.

“The helicopter will be here in about twenty minutes with paramedics on board,” Bat tells me. “There’s no hospital on the island. We’re lucky − it was already in the air on a training session. Do you have any idea what happened?”

I open my mouth to tell him, but there’s a lump in my throat and I can’t speak. I swallow. I’ll have to talk to the paramedics soon so I may as well get it over with. I take a deep breath.

“We had a fight,” I admit. “She was running after me. I got as far as Red Moll’s castle, then I turned back. I found her here, on the ground. Is it her heart?”

“From the look of things, I’d say yes. Nan’s had heart problems for a while. These things happen, Mollie. Don’t blame yourself. What’s important now is that we get Nan treated. The helicopter will land in the campsite and I’ll bring the paramedics here in the jeep. Then, if they can move her, they’ll take Nan to the hospital on the mainland.”

“Can I go with her?” I say.

“I don’t think they’ll let you travel in the helicopter. If that’s the case, I’ll drive you there myself. Nan has always been very kind to me. And us islanders stick together.”

Bat’s right about me not being allowed to travel with Nan in the helicopter. The paramedics say they’ll be faster without me and that every minute is critical.

The paramedics are kind but businesslike. When I tell them what happened – that Nan was running after me and collapsed – they don’t blink. They just ask medical questions.
How long was she lying there for? Is she on any medication?

“Yes,” I tell them, suddenly remembering. “Blockers or something. Does that make sense? For her … her…” I try to think of the word. “Angina.”

“Beta blockers,” one of them says. “Thanks. That’s really helpful.”

They carefully put Nan onto a stretcher and then carry her to the helicopter. It takes off, whipping grass clippings and dead leaves into the air. I watch until it’s a speck in the sky and I can’t hear the whirring of the blades any more.

Then Bat says, “We should ring your mum. Do you have her number?”

Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? I pull out my mobile, but then I stop for a second. I’m still angry about Flora’s Dublin email. Then I think about how serious this is − Nan is on her way to hospital – and I quickly find her number. It goes straight to messages.

“Flora,” I say. “Nan’s being airlifted to hospital. It’s her heart.” Then I pause, the reality of the situation finally sinking in. If Nan’s in hospital and I can’t get through to Flora, what happens to me? I can’t stay in Nan’s house on my own. I’m completely alone. And then I feel guilty for thinking about myself when Nan’s so sick. “Can you ring me, Flora? As soon as you get this?” I end the call and turn to Bat. “She’s not answering.”

“I’m sure she’ll ring you back soon. Now, the next ferry isn’t until five. Would you like to wait at our house?”

I shake my head because I realize I’m not on my own any more. There’s somewhere I can always go. “Can you take me to the Songbird Cafe?”

When we arrive, Alanna is standing just inside the doorway, as if she’s expecting us. She’s twisting one of her apron strings around her hand.

“I heard a helicopter,” she says immediately.

I’m so relieved to see her that I start to cry. Alanna gives me a hug. “It’s OK, Mollie,” she says gently, stroking my head. “What’s happened, Bat? Is it Nan?”

“Yes.” He quickly explains what happened, then says, “I’m going to find Mattie to see if the ferry can make a special trip across to the mainland now.”

When Bat has gone, I say quietly,“It’s my fault that Nan got hurt.” And I tell her how I ran off and Nan followed me.

Alanna puts her arm around me again. “Nan has had heart problems for a while. She wasn’t sure if she was up to looking after a teenager, in fact. But then you arrived, all grown up, and she stopped worrying. She’s tough. She’ll pull through − you’ll see.”

I feel even worse knowing why Nan wasn’t sure about having me here. I start crying again.

“Trust me − she’ll be fine,” Alanna says. “And I’m coming to the hospital with you. My poor little Songbird. Hang in there, sparrow.”

It’s eight o’clock in the evening and I’ve been sitting in the waiting area of the Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital for a long time. Nan’s in the Resuscitation Unit. Bat’s here with me, plus Landy and Alanna. Landy insisted on coming with us. Bat told his school it was a family emergency and collected him on the way here. It’s nice to have friends with me. Talking to them makes me less scared and worried about Nan. We’re waiting to talk to Dr Riesman, Nan’s doctor.

The room smells of disinfectant and the bright fluorescent lights are giving me a headache. Every now and then Alanna reaches over, squeezes my hand and says things like, “No news is good news,” and, “We’ll hear something soon.”

Landy’s head is bowed. He’s playing a game on his iPhone. Bat’s outside taking a phone call. The large clock on the wall goes
tick, tick, tick
. The wait is excruciating. The nurse said that Nan was in the best possible hands, but she couldn’t tell us anything more. At least we know she’s alive.