Free The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan Page B

coughing fit
overtook her. She must have what Sophie had. Bloody girl. It didn’t occur to
her that it was her own fault for telling Sophie she had to come in.
    After making herself a cup of tea, Meredith went back to
bed. Within minutes she was asleep again; the tea lay untouched on the bedside
cabinet.
     

 
     
    Chapter Twelve
     
     
    9th December
    As he buttoned his shirt and put on his tie, Stanley realised
that he was humming a tune he used to sing to Edie. We’ll
Meet Again by Vera Lynn seemed appropriate, and for the first time it
made him happy not sad. He made himself a pot of tea setting out, as usual, a
cup for Edie too, and buttered himself a slice of toast. Yes, he was feeling
very positive. What a difference meeting new people could make.
    She really would have to go to see a doctor soon, thought
Meredith. This wasn’t normal, but first she needed to go through the schedule,
check how the salespeople were performing against target for the month and set
in place any corrective action plans. After about the thirteenth of December
everyone would be in holiday mode, both staff and clients alike, and not much
would be achieved. At least Sophie was back now.
    A few hours into her day Meredith decided she had to get out
of the office. She’d nip over to Sugar and Spice for a slice of that gorgeous
caramel shortcake. Maybe they’d even have some Christmas drinks. What she
wouldn’t give for a warming Gluhwein right now,
although she guessed they wouldn’t have an alcohol licence. Well, perhaps they
would have a cinnamon latte. Meredith stopped short. She didn’t usually buy
into all this Christmas claptrap, but right now, the thought of it was quite
soothing.
    ‘Hi there, nice to see you again,’ the woman greeted Meredith
warmly, as she entered the bakery. The smell of fresh pastries and just brewed
coffee assailed her senses and Meredith breathed in deeply, before another
coughing fit racked her body.
    ‘Oh dear, that sounds awful. You should get that seen to,’
the woman offered.
    Thanks, Einstein , thought Meredith
uncharitably. She gave the woman a tight smile, then said, ‘Do you have any Gluhwein ?’
    ‘I’m afraid we don’t have a licence.’
    ‘Right. I see. Well, do you have any Christmas drinks, any
specialties?’
    ‘We do have a cinnamon drink and also a cranberry tea, and
I’ve made cranberry and white chocolate muffins in honour of the season,’
Natalie pronounced.
    ‘Yes, cranberry tea sounds good. Cranberry’s good for you
when you’re not feeling great, isn’t it?’ Meredith asked.
    ‘That’s right; cranberries are high in antioxidants.’
    ‘Well in that case, I’ll have cranberry tea and the muffin,
thanks. In fact, can you make that two muffins? Sophie will probably want one,
too, although I don’t know whether she likes them or not,’ Meredith thought out
loud.
    Just then another fit of coughing came over Meredith. She
withdrew a handkerchief from her coat pocket and coughed violently into it. But
she didn’t stop. She kept coughing and coughing and then started wheezing and
turned blue. The bakery patrons looked on in horror. She couldn’t seem to get a
breath.
    ‘Let’s sit you down, dear,’ Natalie said, but just as she
was coming around the counter to help her, Meredith’s legs gave way and she
collapsed. A man sitting close by jumped up to try to catch her, but didn’t
quite get there in time and Meredith fell, her head grazing a chair on the way
down.
    ‘Jacob, get some water, please,’ Natalie called. ‘Stand
back, please,’ she said to the customers, ‘I’m a first-aider.’
    The shocked customers cleared a space around Meredith.
    ‘She’s awfully pale,’ one of them remarked.
    Natalie checked Meredith’s airway wasn’t blocked. Her
breathing was still raspy, but at least she was breathing.
Her pulse was faint.
    ‘Jacob, call an ambulance,’ Natalie said, as she moved
Meredith into the recovery position.
    Jacob rushed around the counter