They took Kurt out the back while Miki sank onto a chair in the waiting room. She could hear urgent voices behind the closed door, calling for oxygen, adrenaline, antihistamine, icepacks. Was Kurt going to die? How would she cope on her own? What would happen to the shop?

‘He’d be better off in hospital,’ a female voice said.

Then a deeper tone: ‘No time for that now. Give him a second EpiPen.’

‘Listen to his breathing. Does he need intubation?’

‘We’re not equipped for that here. Oxygen will have to do.’

‘Do we need to get him airlifted?’

‘Keep your voice down.’

Miki wanted someone to tell her Kurt was okay. He might be difficult, but he was all that she had.

While she perched there, anxiously waiting, a blonde woman came in and stood at the counter, tapping pink-painted fingernails on the bench. Miki was so addled by stress it took her a few moments to recognise Mooney’s wife, Liz.

‘Nobody about?’ Liz glanced shyly at Miki, who noticed the bruise on her brow was now gone.

‘They’re out the back, looking after my brother.’

‘What happened?’

‘He was stung by bees.’

‘Ouch! Anaphylaxis? Is he allergic?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘I know how scary it is,’ Liz said. ‘But he should be okay. One of my girls is allergic to peanuts. The doctor here has helped her before. She was all swollen and could hardly breathe, but she came through it all right. Your brother will be all right too.’

‘I hope so.’ Miki didn’t quite believe it.

Liz smiled. ‘Thank you for the Caramello Koalas the other week. The girls and I really enjoyed them.’

‘That’s okay.’

‘You’ve given us treats before, haven’t you? It’s really nice.’ Liz swept a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

A nurse came out, red-faced, a sheen of sweat on her skin, and directed Miki into a consulting room so the doctor could speak to her. He was a tall, narrow man with grey hair at his temples and pale serious eyes. He said Kurt would be fine but would have to remain under observation for the rest of the day. Miki’s brother was sleepy, the doctor said, which wasn’t unusual after treatment for a multiple-stinging event. They had him on a bed where they could keep an eye on him and give more adrenaline and antihistamine if needed. The doctor said Miki could go home, but she couldn’t bear the thought of sitting in the shop alone, looking through the windows and waiting. So she stayed, watching people come and go. There was no more talk of hospital.

She leaned against the wall, remembering how she had visited the hospital in Hobart years ago. It had been her first taste of the outside world, and the memory was vivid. Closing her eyes, she pictured her younger self and sank into the past.