Fiona let out a long sigh. ‘He’ll be all right, won’t he? He’s not that old, only sixty-eight and fit as a flea.’

‘Are you in a position to find your way to Portree, Fiona?’ The paramedic sounded calm and steady.

‘Yes, yes of course.’

‘That’s good. I think it would do your mother good to have your company. Now, I’d better go now as we’re nearly there.’

‘Give Mum a big hug please!’ Fiona swallowed. ‘And Dad too!’

The phone clicked off.

Fiona stared at the phone as she replaced the receiver. How was that possible? How on earth could her healthy father have had a heart attack? He was never ill. The only thing Mum said was ever wrong with him were ‘the Grumps’, as she called them.

She tapped into her laptop and Googled ‘AA route finder’ then ran to the study to attach the laptop to the printer. As it whirred into action, she wondered why the hell she had always refused to buy a sat nav. She’d always insisted she didn’t need one, she could read a map. Martha had one, she could borrow that. God, Martha. She had to tell her what she was doing, she couldn’t just leave her with Jamie.

Fiona grabbed the sheets of paper from the printer then ran back to the kitchen, picked up her mobile and tapped in Martha’s number. She didn’t answer. She tried Allie’s number next, but didn’t get a response either. They would be concentrating on the game. Her eyes darted to the clock. Just four o clock, the game wouldn’t be over for another half hour. But she couldn’t wait that long. She ran upstairs to her room, dragged out a wheelie suitcase and started shoving things in. Then she stopped and sat on her bed. No, she couldn’t go anywhere, let alone Skye, without Jamie knowing what was going on. Also, she remembered Martha and Allie were out at some ball later, she couldn’t presume they’d cancel everything.

She ran downstairs and flung the satsumas out of the fruit bowl to find her car keys. She was at the back door when she stopped. What would be the point of driving to Tannadice as the fans emerged? She’d never find them. She had to wait. She delved in her bag for her phone and texted Martha and Allie.

Please phone as soon as game over. Emergency! x

Then she hurried towards the stairs. She would pack a bag for herself and one for Jamie, they would leave the minute he was home.