Holly, on slightly shaky legs, headed down the hallway to the room where Harry and Rachel were. Because of the high risk of cross-infection, CF patients could not be put together on a general ward, so needed to be kept separate from each other. Looking through the window in the door, she saw Rachel sitting in the high-backed chair beside Harry’s bed. The toddler was sitting up on the hospital bed, hooked up to an IV line that Holly presumed contained stronger antibiotics and wearing a nebuliser. Despite this, he looked chirpy, and she could see him smiling under the mask when she opened the door. For such a young child, he never failed to inspire her, handling everything that was thrown at him like it was normal when, in a lot of respects, his life was anything but.

‘Hey,’ she said gently. ‘How are you doing, titch?’

Harry looked up and smiled. ‘OK, Aunty Holly,’ he said, his voice muffled by the mask.

Holly leaned in and gave him a kiss on the forehead, and then passed him a fluffy rabbit she’d bought in the gift shop as they’d come in.

‘How’s he doing?’ Holly asked Rachel as she gave her sister a hug.

‘Not too badly,’ Rachel replied. Holly’s heart went out to her at how tired and anxious her sister looked. ‘Just a bit fed up, as I am, at being back here for the second time this year. But they’re great, as ever.’

‘I’ve got someone with me,’ Holly said. ‘Are you happy to see him?’

Rachel’s eyebrows raised. ‘It depends. Were you happy to see him?’

Holly smiled briefly. ‘To a point. He wants to lend us his full support.’

‘Haven’t we been here before?’ Rachel said wearily. She suddenly looked very, very tired. ‘What’s changed? The direction of the wind?’

‘I know he’s been indecisive, but there’s something different this time,’ as Holly said the words, she realised she believed them. ‘I think you should hear what he has to say.’

Rachel smiled. ‘OK. But I don’t want this one disturbed or upset – he might look better, but he’s still fighting infection. Charlie can come and see him, but only for a minute.’

‘I’ll go and get him,’ Holly offered, relieved that Rachel would, at least, listen to what Charlie had to say.

A couple of minutes later, Charlie poked his head around the door of the room.

‘Hey, Harry,’ Charlie said as he closed the door behind him, leaving Holly waiting in the corridor outside. ‘How are you doing?’

‘OK,’ Harry replied, beaming. The little boy liked having visitors, and he’d taken a shine to Charlie over the time he’d known him.

‘Hey,’ Rachel said. ‘Holly said you wanted to speak to me.’