Page 86 of Be More Octopus

'Seriously?' What had Lucy been up to?

'Yes, Jack's booked a table at that restaurant we were originally going to last night.'

'I'm surprised he got one at short notice on a Saturday night.'

'He said Nancy knows the owner. She called in a favour. They usually keep a couple of tables free for walk-ins.'

'When did all this happen?'

'He popped over half an hour ago while you were busy. You're right - there is something even more appealing about him when you're talking to him one to one.'

'I'm not going to be fighting you for him, am I?' Em was worried enough about Daisy as a potential rival, but if Lucy set her heart on a man, she usually got him.

'Of course not. I've got my eyes on Mark.' Lucy tended to be a serial monogamist, but this was moving fast even for her.

'Lars is a goner then?'

'Yes, I just haven't told him yet. Now, let's get down to business. Can I borrow your straighteners? I left mine at home.'

CHAPTER SIXTY

Jack had volunteered to drive. The restaurant was gorgeous, and they had been given the best table with views over the bay. The food was delicious. Mark entertained them with stories of his adventures in Spain. And, best of all, Jack was being attentive to Em again. It was shaping up to be an excellent evening. They could go for a romantic walk on the seafront afterwards, and she could talk to Jack while Mark and Lucy went on ahead.

They were working their way through their main courses when Lucy started coughing. 'I think I've got a bone stuck in my throat,' she managed to say.

Mark attracted the waiter's attention. 'Could we have some water, please?'

Lucy gulped down a pint of water, but the bone was still stuck.

'Would you like to try some bread?' the waiter offered, keen to get the situation resolved as soon as possible because the other diners were starting to stare.

The bread didn't work either. And neither did the ball of rice that the waiter brought from the kitchen.

'Do you want to go home?' Jack asked.

'No, don't spoil the evening. I'm sure it will move in a minute. You have your desserts.'

Lucy tried some more water. Still no joy.

'I think we should go.' Em said. Jack and Mark agreed.

Lucy was quiet on the drive back to Dashford Grange.

'It's starting to seriously hurt,' she whispered to Em.

Jack must've heard her. 'We need to get you to hospital,' he said. 'We can drop you off at home first, Mark?'

'Don't make me spend Saturday night with my mother. I haven't done that since I was 15. We'll all go.'

Jack turned onto the main A road towards Barnstaple A&E, 20 miles away.

Half an hour later, they were all sitting in a row on hard plastic hospital chairs, waiting for Lucy to be seen.

'I'm sorry. I've ruined everyone's evening,' Lucy said, almost crying.

'It's not that bad. A&E on a Saturday night is quite entertaining,' Jack said as they watched a man walk in wearing a long winter coat and dragging a Hoover next to him.

'Odd to wear that coat when it's 25 degrees outside.' Em said.