By Lisa
Kate stood up from the table where she had been directing a meeting at the Beeches surgery. "Well, I’m glad we’re all agreed!" she said with a smile. The others smiled back at her. The meeting had gone well and everyone seemed happy at the outcome.
"Right. Well I better go," Kate picked up her bag and moved towards the door, closely followed by Will. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he turned her around to face him, "I’ll see ‘you’ later," he said and kissed her hair, breathing in the familiar smell of her shampoo.
"I’ve booked a table for seven," she said as she searched for her car keys. "I’ll try not to be late." Kissing him quickly on the lips, she smiled and then hurried out of the door.
"You better not be!" he called after her laughing, before turning back to the others who still remained seated at the table.
Kerri grinned at him mischievously, "Hot date?" she quipped.
"It’s our anniversary," Will announced. Everyone congratulated him and wished him well.
"Well I hope you have a good night," Alex said as she got up to continue with morning surgery. Tom followed her out of the room, while the others remained to talk to Will about what he had planned to celebrate.
****
The restaurant was full of smiling happy people. Everybody seemed to be having a good time, candles flickered and soft music played in the background while couples sat eating delicious food. Will sat alone at his table waiting for Kate. When she finally appeared in the doorway, his face lit up. She hurried over full of apologies, but Will was just happy to se her.
"I’m so sorry Will – I got held up at the last meeting."
"You look beautiful!" His eyes focused on her in awe.
Kate broke into a smile, her eyes sparkling with happiness. Her chestnut hair lay loose over her shoulders framing her face and her shiny gold earrings complemented her new dress perfectly. She looked stunning.
Will admired his wife, his deep blue eyes taking in every detail of her delicate complexion and figure. She could feel him watching her and felt flattered by his unmitigated attention. They had come through alot and she was pleased to be sitting opposite such a gorgeous, caring and attentive man whom she loved with all of her heart.
"Happy anniversary!" Will said, handing Kate a small, black, velvet jewellery box.
Kate took the box nervously in her hands and slowly lifted the lid. Her eyes lit up by what she saw inside, "It’s beautiful!"
"It’s an eternity ring," Will announced proudly. "Do you like it?"
"Oh Will," she exclaimed. "I love it!" Overcome with the depth of her feelings and the emotion of the moment she remained speechless for a while. She looked up from the diamond ring that glittered on her finger to meet Will’s eyes, "I love you!"
He took her hands in his own, across the table "And I love you Mrs Preston!"
The waiter arrived with their food and their hands parted to make room for the plates. After the waiter had left, Will and Kate began the delicious food that had been served up in front of them.
Moments into the meal, Will looked up from his plate while he chewed on a mouthful of food. Conversation had been flowing non-stop, but now Kate had gone silent. He gazed into her eyes, which had lost a little of their sparkle and was puzzled by the look on her face.
"Kate? What’s wrong?"
Her cheeks were flushed and she had a slightly panicked expression on her face. Will thought she looked quite ill all of a sudden and was worried especially when she didn’t answer.
"Kate – is everything ok?"
"Will, I don’t feel right," she said weakly, clutching her stomach. "I feel sick. I’ve gotta get out of…" she stood quickly knocking her knife and fork to the floor. Her head was swimming, objects in front of her were swaying in and out of focus and she could see the concerned faces of other people looking on. She felt slightly light-headed but couldn’t remember having had much to drink. Lights danced around and dots flashed before her eyes - she felt dizzy and unbalanced.
Suddenly she could feel someone at her side, supporting her, holding her up. It was Will. He had moved towards her as soon as he noticed she wasn’t feeling well and now he wore a distraught expression on his face.
"Perhaps you need some fresh air," he suggested when he noticed her breathing becoming more rapid and difficult. The wheeziness became more exaggerated and harsh, as Will realised she was struggling for each breath.
"Kate – don’t do this to me!" he pleaded as she collapsed into his arms. She was now too weak to even try and speak. A couple of waiters helped clear a space, where Will could lay Kate down on the floor.
"Call 999!" he called to one of them and tossing his keys to the other he asked him to get his medical bag from the car.
It seemed to take forever and Will felt helpless while he waited. He checked her pulse which was worryingly uneven – rapid one minute and slower and weaker the next. "Stay with me Kate," he nudged her as her head began to loll and eyes began to close.
"C’mon Kate – talk to me darlin’"
Will had noticed a blotchy rash developing on her skin and now he was worried that her throat may be swelling too. These sudden symptoms seemed to point to one thing and it was important that he acted quickly. He cradled her in a sitting position as she continued to fight for air and tried to calm and reassure her.
"Kate, sweetheart! I think you’ve had an allergic reaction to something you’ve eaten. But don’t worry – everything’s going to be fine!"
At that moment, the waiter hurried in with Will’s bag. Taking it from him, Will quickly opened it and searched through it’s contents. He pulled out a syringe and spoke gently to Kate constantly throughout the ordeal.
"Right Kate – I’m going to give you a little shot of adrenalin darlin’. Ok?"
Kate understood, but could not reply. Her body was exhausted and the fight was not over yet. The injection took a few moments before it began to work, but eventually it eased her breathing slightly. More air was able to enter her lungs, but her pulse was still fast and her blood pressure still low. She was sluggish and disorientated and Will found it hard to keep her awake.
Just then a paramedic crew raced into the restaurant. In their instantly recognisable green suits, the audience at their tables were relieved to see them. Both men leaned over Will and Kate as Will filled them in.
"Looks like anaphylactic shock. Her pulse is racing and she’s hypotensive. I’ve given her 0.5 milligrams of epinephrine adrenaline."
The paramedics nodded as they began to take over the situation. One of the guys looked at Will as the other placed an oxygen mask over Kate’s face, "Any idea what caused it?"
"No sorry, she’s never reacted like this to anything before," Will answered in all honesty. He was scared and the full realisation that he nearly lost his wife was beginning to sink in.
"Did she lose consciousness at all?"
Will shook his head, his body suddenly feeling tired after all of the drama. His doctoring instinct had taken over earlier and had probably saved Kate’s life. Now he just felt exhaustion and a small glower of relief as the paramedics began to lift Kate into the back of the ambulance.
"You’re going to be fine!" he reassured her holding her hand. He blinked back tears as she smiled weakly up at him. That had been a close call – too close for comfort.
****
At the hospital while Will was waiting to see Kate, he telephoned Charlie who had been staying at a friends, and Tom who agreed to bring him to the hospital. The three of them waited in the hospital corridor for some news. A doctor emerged from the room where Kate was being treated and Will stood up as he approached.
"We’ve given her another dose of epinephrine to counteract a second attack," spoke the doctor. "And we’ve also given her an antihistamine injection so she should be out of danger now. Her blood pressure is almost back to normal and her pulse is fine, but I’d like to keep her in overnight for observation."
Will nodded.
"We’ve diagnosed idiopathic anaphylaxis for the moment as we can’t identify a specific cause. I’ll refer Kate to an allergy specialist for some more tests, but we won’t know anymore until then." The doctor smiled at Will as he gestured towards the door to Kate’s room.
"Thanks!" Will shook hands with the doctor before entering, closely followed by Charlie. Tom watched from outside.
Kate lay with her eyes closed in the hospital bed. She opened them as she felt Will’s presence as he kissed her gently on the forehead. She looked much better and stronger than she had earlier. An IV drip was still attached to the back of her hand to keep her fluid levels up.
"You really scared me earlier," Will said softly.
"I’m sorry," she smiled up at him as he stroked her hair away from her face.
"I thought I was going to lose you."
"Nah – you’re stuck with me for a bit longer," she joked as she gestured for Charlie to give her a hug. "Forever in fact!" she said noticing the eternity ring still on her finger.
Will laughed. "Forever suits me fine!" he said and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Happy anniversary darling!"
THE END!