‘Well, it didn’t look like this at first. It started with just one red spot under his arm and then it spread. Then his temperature shot up and he’s been feeling boiling hot ever since.’ Diane pushed her son’s hair away from his face and touched his forehead. ‘He’s hot now.’
Flora examined the rash carefully. It was scarlet and circular and she’d never seen anything like it before. ‘Did you see a doctor when you were away?’
‘Yes, but he said it was just a virus.’ Diane rolled her eyes, her worry evident. ‘Perhaps it is, but I wanted a proper opinion. It isn’t until you leave Glenmore that you realise how good the medical care is on this island. I was hoping to see Dr MacNeil, but Janet says his surgery is full.’
Flora checked Harry’s temperature and recorded it. ‘Logan isn’t the only doctor working at Glenmore now,’ she said carefully, and Diane pursed her lips.
‘If you’re talking about Conner MacNeil, I’m not interested. I remember the time he set off that firework in the school library.’
‘That was a long time ago, Mrs Gregg.’ Flora checked Harry’s pulse and blood pressure. ‘He trained in the army. His qualifications are excellent.’
‘I don’t care. I—’
‘Didn’t you ever do anything you shouldn’t when you were young?’
‘Well, I—I suppose …’
‘I know I did.’ Flora shrugged. ‘And I also know I wouldn’t want to be judged as an adult by how I was as a child. People change, Mrs Gregg. And everyone deserves to be given chances. Logan wouldn’t have taken Conner on if he didn’t trust him. I’d like him to see Harry. I don’t recognise this rash and the fact that he has a temperature makes it worth exploring further.’
Mrs Gregg hesitated and then glanced at Harry, clearly torn. ‘I don’t suppose Conner will know any more than that doctor on the mainland.’
‘Let’s give it a try—see what he says? I’ll see if he’s free,’ Flora said cheerfully, trying not to reveal that the chances of Conner having a patient with him was extremely remote.
Hoping that she wasn’t making a mistake, she went across the corridor and tapped on his door. ‘Conner?’ She walked in and found him absorbed in a website on the internet. She peered closer. ‘Wetsuits?’
‘I’m planning to do some sailing. It looks as though I’m going to have plenty of time on my hands.’ He swivelled his head and looked at her. ‘Are you here to relieve my boredom?’
She flushed. ‘I have a patient that needs to be seen by a doctor.’
‘And?’
‘You’re a doctor.’
‘Am I?’ He lounged back in his chair, his ice-blue gaze disturbingly direct. ‘So why am I sitting in an empty consulting room?’
‘Because this is Glenmore and it takes folks a while to get used to change. The last time they saw you, you were stirring up trouble all over the island. I don’t suppose anyone imagined you’d become a doctor. So will you see Harry Gregg?’
Conner’s eyes narrowed. ‘Diane’s son?’
‘Yes. He’s eight years old and a really nice little boy. Very lively usually, but not today. Diane is frightened.’
‘She always did have a tendency to overreact. I remember she slapped my face once.’
‘You probably deserved it.’
He smiled. ‘I probably did. So what do you think, Flora? Paranoid mother?’
Flora shook her head. ‘I think it’s something that needs looking at. The child is poorly, there’s no doubt about that. And he has a really weird rash. I’ve never seen anything like it before.’
Conner rose to his feet. ‘Is she going to slap my face again or run away screaming in horror if I walk into the room?’
‘I’ve no idea.’ Flora gave a weary smile. ‘Let’s try it, shall we? Harry needs to see a doctor and I’d rather it was sooner than later.’
Diane looked up as they walked into the room. ‘Dr MacNeil.’
‘Diane.’ Conner’s greeting was cursory, his eyes focused on the boy, who was now sitting on his mother’s lap, his head on her chest. ‘Hey, sport.’ He hunkered down so that he was on the same level. ‘What’s going on with you?’
Harry opened his eyes but didn’t move his head. ‘Feel bad.’
‘His temperature is thirty-nine degrees.’ Flora gently lifted Harry’s arm so that Conner could see. ‘He’s had this rash for three days.’
‘Feel horrible,’ the boy muttered, and Conner nodded.
‘Well, we need to see what we can do about that.’ He studied the rash in silence, his blue eyes narrowed slightly. ‘Circular rash.’
Diane watched his face. ‘You’re going to tell me that it’s just a virus and that I shouldn’t have bothered you.’
Conner lifted his gaze to hers. ‘You were right to bring him. Harry? Do you mind undressing down to your underpants? I want to take a proper look at this rash.’
Flora helped the child undress and Conner examined his skin carefully and questioned Diane in detail.
‘It started under his arm when we were on holiday,’ she told him. ‘Just a red spot. And then it grew bigger and it turned into that weird thing he has now.’
‘Where did you go on holiday?’
Flora glanced at him in surprise. She wouldn’t have expected Conner to be interested in small talk.
‘Mainland.’
‘Highlands?’ Conner ran a finger over the rash, his expression thoughtful. ‘Were you walking?’
‘Yes.’ Diane looked at him. ‘How do you know?’
Conner straightened and reached for Harry’s T-shirt. ‘It fits with what I’m seeing. You can get dressed now. I’ve seen all I need to see.’ He gently pulled the T-shirt over the boy’s head. ‘Were you camping?’
‘Yes. We spent a few nights in a forest. It was lovely.’
‘Lots of deer around?’
‘Actually, yes.’ Diane frowned. ‘How do you know that?’
‘Because Harry has Lyme disease.’ Conner washed his hands. ‘He was almost certainly bitten by a tick, which is why he started off with one red spot. Did you see an insect?’
‘No.’ Bemused, Diane shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t. But we’ve been camping every year since he was born and we’ve never had a problem. Lyme disease? What is that? I’ve never even heard of it.’
‘It’s
