Allergic to bees?

Jenny glanced at Alex in horror but all his attention was on his sister.

‘Where did it sting you, Lib?’

‘Neck.’ Libby was white and Alex tipped her head over and examined the skin.

‘I see it. The sting is still in there.’

‘Get it out! Alex, get it out!’ Libby was gasping now and Alex scraped at the sting with his finger until he finally managed to remove it.

‘It’s out. Tell me you’re carrying adrenaline,’ he said through gritted teeth, and Libby nodded, lifting a hand to her throat, her eyes wide with panic.

‘It’s starting. I can feel it. I can’t breathe, Alex. Oh, no, I can’t breathe.’

She started to gasp and sob, clutching at him with her free hand, and he scooped her up in his arms and laid her gently on the blanket.

‘It’s all right, baby, I’m here.’ His voice was rock solid and reassuring but Jenny noticed his hand shaking slightly as he reached out to grasp Libby’s bag. Jaw clenched tight, he lifted it and emptied the contents unceremoniously onto the rug. ‘You’re going to be fine, sweetheart. Try not to panic.’

‘My throat…’ Libby’s voice was a rasp as she clutched at her brother’s shoulders.

‘It’s OK, Lib—I’m here, sweetheart. Jenny, find the adrenaline,’ he growled. ‘Quickly!’

The gravity of the scenario swamping her with horror, Jenny dropped to her knees and rummaged through the contents of Libby’s handbag, her hands shaking so badly that she couldn’t grasp anything. There seemed to be thousands of different lipsticks, notebooks, numerous screwed-up chocolate wrappers, but finally her fingers closed around a pre-loaded syringe of adrenaline.

By now Libby was gasping and her face was swelling rapidly. She clutched her brother, her eyes terrified as she stared up at him desperately. ‘Don’t let me die! Don’t let me die, Alex.’

‘You’re not going to die, baby,’ Alex soothed, snapping his fingers at Jenny in an attempt to hurry her.

Sick with reaction, Jenny pushed the syringe into his hand and he sucked in a breath as he jabbed the syringe into Libby’s thigh without a second’s hesitation. ‘You’re not going to die, Libby. I promise you won’t die.’

Jenny watched in appalled silence, frozen to the spot in shock. Only moments earlier they’d been chatting happily and now Libby was fighting for every breath.

In all her years working in A and E Libby had never seen anyone deteriorate so quickly. It was a nightmare of the worst proportions and she didn’t need to see Alex’s white face to know just how gravely ill his sister was.

‘Uncle Alex…?’ Zoe’s voice quivered. ‘What’s happening to Mummy?’

Jenny gave a gasp of horror and scooped the child into her arms. In the urgency of the situation, they’d both forgotten the children.

‘Mummy will be fine, angel,’ Alex said firmly, giving the little girl a quick smile before transferring his gaze to Jenny.

‘Get the children away.’ His voice was remarkably calm. ‘Ask that family over there to look after them for a minute and then get yourself back over here. I’m going to need your help.’