‘Mr and Mrs Chapman? I’m Dr Turner.’
‘How is she, Doctor?’ asked Kate.
‘She’s pretty low at the moment but I should stress that she’s not in any danger. There’s just been a build-up of toxic substances in her blood because of the kidney problem. Once we clear these away she’s going to feel a whole lot better, I promise you.’
‘Any idea why she went into renal failure?’ asked Sandy.
‘Impossible to say at this stage,’ replied Turner. ‘But there are a lot of tests we still have to do over the next few days.’
‘Is there a chance that this was just a one-off problem?’ asked Kate.
Turner displayed the unease of a man being asked to provide an encouraging answer he knew he couldn’t give. ‘I… I don’t really feel that’s likely,’ he said.
‘So you think she’ll need further dialysis?’ said Sandy.
‘It’s early days yet, but in all honesty I fear so. That’s usually the case.’
Sandy felt his spirits sink and his limbs become heavy. The chances were that Amanda was going to need regular dialysis from now on unless… He shut out thoughts of what might lie ahead and tried to confine himself to what was going to happen tonight.
‘Is it okay if we stay?’ he asked.
‘Of course,’ replied Turner. ‘But if you’ll take my advice you’ll go home and get some rest. She’s in good hands.’
‘But what if she should need us in the-’
Turner shook his head. ‘We’re going to keep her well sedated. Come back tomorrow. We’ll be able to tell you much more after we’ve carried out some more tests.’
Reluctantly, because all Kate’s instincts said that she should stay near Amanda, Sandy and Kate took Turner’s advice. It was a thirty-mile drive back to Ayrshire but the roads would be quiet in the early hours of the morning and the rain had settled down to a drizzle rather than the earlier downpour. They didn’t speak much as they walked to the car down the wet cobbled lane at the side of the hospital. They were both preoccupied with their own thoughts and could think of nothing encouraging to say to each other. A black cat that scurried off among the dustbins seemed to be the only other living creature in the darkness of the night.
The house was cold when they got in; the heating had switched itself off some hours ago. The coldness added to the feeling of quiet and emptiness that met them.
‘Are you hungry?’ Kate asked as Sandy knelt down to light the gas fire in the living room.
‘Not really. But I could use a drink.’
Kate poured them both a whisky. They sat on opposite sides of the fire. They hadn’t yet taken their coats off.
‘Everything’s been going too well,’ said Kate. ‘Something like this was bound to happen.’
Sandy looked at her questioningly.
‘You get your job, then I get mine. We find the cottage in the perfect village. Everything has been going just too smoothly. It had to stop.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Sandy softly. ‘That’s a very Scottish thing to say.’
‘We’re very Scottish people,’ replied Kate.
‘That doesn’t mean we have to subscribe to the “Weary Willie, we’ll pay for this somehow” philosophy.’
‘I suppose not,’ agreed Kate with a wan attempt at a smile.
‘Anyone found enjoying themselves will be dealt with severely,’ mimicked Sandy in severe Presbyterian minister tones.
Kate’s smile grew broader. She got up from her chair and said, ‘I’ll make us some toast. We’ve got to eat something.’
Neither of them managed much sleep. Both were relieved when it was time to get up and busy themselves. They phoned the hospital and were told that Amanda had had a comfortable night and that it would be best if they waited till early afternoon before going in. By then the doctors would have the results of the tests they planned for Amanda and should have something concrete to tell them.
Kate phoned Isa Jenkins to tell her what had happened and that she would not be at school today.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ said Isa. ‘I rather thought that might be the case. The wee soul didn’t look well at all. I took the precaution of calling one of the supply teachers over in Ayr last night and warning her she might be needed today, so everything’s under control.’
Sandy called Charlie Rimington at home and was given similar assurances. ‘Nice people,’ he said when he put down the phone. Kate nodded.
‘Dr Grayson and Dr Turner will see you now,’ said the nurse who put her head round the door of the waiting room. Sandy and Kate followed her a short way along the corridor and were shown into a small, sunny room where the two men were sitting. Both got up when Kate and Sandy entered, and Grayson was introduced to them as the consultant in charge of the renal unit.
‘She’s looking better this morning,’ said Turner with a smile to Kate, who was looking anxious.
Kate nodded. ‘Yes, she is.’
‘She had a good night’s sleep, which I dare say is more than either of you two did.’
Sandy nodded his agreement.
With the pleasantries over, Grayson got down to business. He was a man in his mid-forties with thinning grey hair and a pepper-and-salt moustache. His dark suit looked expensive and appeared to have been made to measure with millimetric precision. The cuffs of his white shirt showed one centimetre on both sides and his gold cuff links seemed to rest at precisely the same angle on the table as he sat with his hands clasped in front of him. His shirt collar seemed to ride a little high and looked distinctly uncomfortable to Sandy’s way of thinking but it was the perfect foil for the dark university tie that hung below. The overall impression was of a man precise in all things.
‘Frankly, the news is not good.’
Sandy felt as if he had been hit by a train. He swallowed and looked at Kate, who seemed to be reeling too. He took her hand and squeezed it.
‘Amanda’s renal failure is quite severe, though we can see no reason for it. She has responded fairly positively to dialysis, although not as well as we expected. As regards prognosis, I think we should be looking at dialysis as a way of life well into the foreseeable future.’
Sandy rubbed his forehead. Grayson didn’t fool around with dressing up what he had to say. His worst fears were being confirmed at an alarming rate.
‘Can I ask what you do?’ continued Grayson.
‘I’m an MLSO at Dunnock District Hospital,’ said Sandy. He looked to Kate to see if she was going to reply for herself. She was looking down at her shoes. ‘Kate’s a teacher,’ he added.
‘Good,’ said Grayson. ‘Then, thinking ahead, I feel we should be considering a home dialysis unit for Amanda when one becomes available. You’re both obviously quite capable of dealing with its demands.’
Sandy raised his right hand slightly. It was a gesture designed to slow Grayson down. He was reeling from the onslaught. ‘You said, “foreseeable future”,’ he said. ‘What exactly does that mean?’
‘It means that Amanda will need dialysis until such time as a kidney transplant becomes available for her.’
The word ‘transplant’ seemed to have put Kate into shock. She sat with her eyes wide, staring at Grayson as he spoke.
‘A transplant,’ repeated Sandy slowly.
‘Yes.’
‘It’s that serious? But how? When? I mean, how long?’
‘Far too soon to start talking about that,’ replied Grayson. ‘We’ve lots more tests to do.’ He looked distracted, and almost before they could respond he had made his excuses and left, leaving them alone with Clive Turner.
Turner seemed more sensitive to their feelings and almost embarrassed at Grayson’s manner. ‘I know what you must be thinking,’ he said softly, ‘but these days kidney transplants are very common and very successful.’
‘But you need a suitable donor,’ said Sandy.
Turner nodded. ‘True, and that’s where the waiting comes in. Amanda will be tissue-typed and her details entered on an international register. As soon as a match comes up we can get the organ and do the surgery.’