Jordan stood up to come and pull her chair back for her, helping her over to the sofa.
‘I’m sorry,’ she mumbled to Laura and Ian. ‘I think it must have been the shellfish I ate for lunch.’
‘Why the hell didn’t you say so?’ Jordan rasped. ‘I’ll call a doctor.’
‘No!’
‘But if you’ve been poisoned by this fish you could be really ill,’ he reasoned firmly.
Laura came over to feel her forehead. ‘She doesn’t feel as if she has a fever or anything like that.’
‘Nevertheless,’ Jordan insisted, ‘I’d rather she had a doctor, just to make sure it’s nothing serious.’
‘I agree with Jordan,’ Ian chimed in. ‘You don’t mess around with things like shellfish.’
‘I think all she needs is to lie down for a while,’ Laura told them.
‘But you aren’t a doctor, darling,’ her husband said gently.
‘Maybe not, but I think she’s right.’ Kelly was embarrassed at being the centre of attention like this.
‘Maybe I should just get you home and then call a doctor,’ Jordan said thoughtfully.
‘No!’ The thought of that drive home at the moment made her feel even more sick. ‘Laura’s right, a lie down and I’ll be fine.’
‘I’m not so sure—’ Still he hesitated.
Kelly looked appealingly at Laura. She just couldn’t face that drive at the moment. She just wanted to be alone.
‘A lie down,’ Laura said firmly, answering her silent plea. ‘Come on upstairs with me.’
Kelly swayed as she stood up, leaving heavily on Jordan as he put an arm about her waist to assist her. ‘I’ll be all right in a minute,’ she assured him. ‘Really I will.’
‘You’d better be,’ he said grimly.
The bedroom was cool and dark, and she lay down gratefully on the bed. ‘I feel so silly,’ she gave a wan smile, ‘making a fuss like this.’
‘You aren’t making a fuss,’ Laura told her. ‘Off you go, Jordan. I’ll make sure she’s comfortable before I come down.’
‘Kelly?’ he looked down at her.
‘I’m feeling better already,’ she smiled up at him, heaving a sigh of relief when he reluctantly left.
Laura sat down beside her on the bed. ‘How do you really feel?’
‘Lousy!’ she grimaced, very pale.
‘I thought so. Still,’ Laura stood up, ‘nothing a strong cup of tea and a dry biscuit won’t cure.’
Kelly gave her a sharp look, sighing heavily. ‘You know, don’t you?’
Laura gave her a look of feigned innocence. ‘Know what?’
She sighed again. ‘That I’m pregnant.’
‘Yes, I know,’ her friend confirmed. ‘But Jordan doesn’t, does he?’
‘No.’ Kelly bit her lip. ‘I didn’t know myself until tonight, until this sickness suddenly came over me. Oh, Laura, what am I going to do?’ she cried desperately.