He heard Conor swallow. ‘God feckin’ damn it, Shay. This better be good.’
CHAPTER 15
Tammy sat in her father’s stuffy office. She was working on reception. It was insulting, really, but Vincent said that until she proved that she was grown-up enough to start practicing as a Doctor, she would be managing his patient records and booking his appointments.
‘Can I ask the nature of the ailment? It’s so that the doctor will be able to decide on the priority of your appointment.’
‘I’m not telling you,’ said the patient. ‘You’renot the doctor.’
Much as she hated being here with her father, it really felt as though she didn’t have any choice. She had a stack of student debt to pay off, and the idea of paying it back on a receptionist’s salary for the rest of her life was extremely depressing.
She thought about applying for work at another medical practice, but her father had threatened to give a very bad reference. ‘And if you don’t put me down as a referee,’ he said, ‘I’ll no doubt find out about your placement. I still have connections with all the practices in the state — and I’ll be obliged to call and tell your new boss my professional opinion.’
Each day that passed, she felt angrier with her father. But at the same time, she became more and more convinced that he was truly doing what he thought was best for her. It was a shame that he was so wrong-headed about everything.
‘No, madam,’ she said. ‘I’m not the doctor.’ It galled her to say those words.
‘Well, I don’t see why I should tell you about my problems. I refuse.’
There was something about this reception area that made Tammy feel like she was perpetually about to fall asleep. It didn’t help that there was no-one here right now. She could so easily put the phone down, close her eyes and… get fired by her dad.
‘I’m afraid it’s a requirement of the practice.’
The lady on the phone bristled with annoyance. ‘I’d like to speak to your manager please.’
‘Please, madam. I don’t make the rules. I’m just trying to get you an appointment. I promise you that your issue will be kept entirely confidential.’
‘I’ve never felt so insulted!’
The whole while that Tammy was on the phone, she was eying the locker in the corner of the reception room. In a moment of weakness, she’d agreed to store her stuffies, pacis, and all other Little paraphernalia in the locker. It was a condition of her working at all.
All she wanted to do right now was open up the locker, grab her stuff and disappear into Little Space for at least a year. But there was no hope. No chance of escape. This was her life now.
She opened her mouth to say something — anything — to the insistent patient on the phone when there was a strange noise from the window. Tapping. But no-one could be tapping on the window — they were too high up. This was the second story. No-one could be tall enough to tap. Something strange was going on.
Tammy looked over — the curtains were closed to preserve what her father called a ‘peaceful warmth’ — but she could just see something moving between the gap in the center of the window where they met.
It was an arm.
‘One moment please,’ Tammy said absentmindedly. ‘Something’s just come up.’
She lay the handset down on the ugly old desk and crept over to the window. Then, she crept over to the window. When she pulled the curtains apart, she almost screamed with surprise.
There, swaying in the breeze, was the happy-looking face of Finn Healy. It took her a moment to work out what was going on. He was on his brother’s shoulders. And Conor, himself, was sitting on Shay’s shoulders. Shay looked like he was about to pass out from the effort.
‘Open up!’ mouthed Finn.
Tammy did so, opening the window as wide as she could.
‘Welcome to the Tower of Terror!’ he said.
‘What’s going on?’ she replied. She couldn’t hide her delight at seeing them. The joy was plainly written on her face.
‘We’re here to rescue you, Rapunzel,’ Conor said, his voice strained.
‘I thought she was Golidlocks, not Rapunzel,’ Shay grunted from the bottom of the tower. As surprised as she was to see any of the Healys here, she was totally gobsmacked to see Shay with them. She’d thought that their relationship had been ruined over what had happened with her father.
‘Come on,’ Finn said, ‘climb down, princess. Your chariot awaits.’