BooksBarbecue
Back A Place to Call Home Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. Epilogue
  58. Author’s Note
  59. Acknowledgments
  60. More from Fay Keenan
  61. About the Author
  62. About Boldwood Books

‘Thank you, Mr Speaker.’ Charlie took a split second to wait for the last of the chatter to die down. ‘Since I moved into the beautiful West Country constituency of Willowbury and Stavenham, I have got to know the people who have made the place their home. Among them is the family of three-year-old Harry Jamieson, born with cystic fibrosis, who currently takes a cocktail of drugs and inhales a series of nebulisers every single day of his young life in order to stem the effects of the condition.’ Charlie paused, even though the chamber, seemingly out of respect for the issue, had fallen silent. ‘Does the Prime Minster agree that it is time to re-evaluate the position of the NHS in regard to the funding of next generation of cystic fibrosis drugs, and enter into further discussions with the pharmaceutical companies, so that Harry and patients like him could have the possibility of a healthier, more extended life?’

As the ‘hear hears’ echoed around the chamber, from both sides of the benches, Holly’s heart thumped.

‘I thank the Honourable Gentleman for his question,’ the Prime Minister said as the noise died away. ‘And I sympathise with the position of the constituents of which he speaks so eloquently. I will ensure the Department of Health and Social Care looks into the reasons for this stalemate and responds as soon as possible.’

Holly let out her breath. It was a standard response, that was for sure, but she couldn’t help but hope it meant more than it appeared to. After all, raising the issue so publicly had to be good for something. She’d known full well that the Prime Minister wouldn’t wave a magic wand, but she hoped, somehow, that she’d just witnessed a metaphorical one.

As the next speaker was called, Holly looked back towards Charlie. His expression was carefully composed and gave nothing away. She hoped that he’d be able to interpret the Prime Minister’s response later when they met. She, certainly, was none the wiser.

36

Holly waited nervously out in the lobby, dodging journalists and MPs meeting guests and escaping for lunch. Charlie had said he’d meet her here and give her the keys to his flat, so she could freshen up before their dinner date. She felt such a combination of emotions, having seen Charlie acquit himself with grace and panache on the chamber floor. Not a trace of nerves had marred his voice as he’d risen and asked his question, and her heart nearly burst with pride. If Harry and Rachel had been in the audience, Charlie had planned to refer the House’s attention to them, but since they weren’t, he’d avoided drawing attention to Holly; it wouldn’t have had quite the same impact, and may well have put him off his stride.