‘I will do everything I can,’ Charlie replied. ‘From here, I’m going straight home and Holly’s going to help me work on my opening speech for the Adjournment Debate I’m going to table.’

‘That’s a good start,’ Rachel said. ‘I know the big things move slowly in the political world, but time is important here, not just for Harry but for all of the CF patients.’

‘You’d be surprised how time seems to operate in Westminster,’ Charlie said, a wry note entering his low voice. ‘Sometimes it grinds so slowly, nothing ever seems to change, and then you blink and something’s been passed. Let’s hope the CF medication is one of those things.’

Their attention was drawn quickly to the bed as Harry had a sudden fit of coughing. Rachel sat him up a little bit straighter and tapped him sharply on the back, starting a routine of physio that would help to keep the mucus from settling on his lungs. Charlie was struck, yet again, by the delicate balance Harry had to sustain in order to stay healthy and how easily this could be disrupted. He felt his resolve renewing to do something.

‘I promise you that by the time you two come home, I’ll have written my speech and be more than ready to give it,’ he said firmly. ‘And I’m going to speak to the Health and Social Care Committee, find out what’s holding up the decision. I will do everything I can, Rachel.’

‘I know,’ Rachel said, as Harry’s coughing subsided. ‘I trust you.’

To a politician, that was a great endorsement, and to a man who had grown so attached to this family, it was an indication of much more. He leaned forward and kissed Rachel on the cheek. ‘I’m grateful for that.’

As he walked out of the hospital room and rejoined Holly in the corridor, she glanced up from the book she’d been reading on her phone, obviously trying to distract herself from whatever conversation was being held between Charlie and Rachel.

‘OK?’ she asked softly.

‘Yes,’ Charlie replied. ‘Apart from the fact that I’ve now got to break the news to someone that they’re going to be spending their spare time this weekend helping me to compose a killer speech.’

‘Oh yes?’ Holly said, a little behind the curve for once. ‘Tom’s going to love that.’

‘Tom’s on holiday until tomorrow,’ Charlie replied, grinning. ‘It was you I was thinking about.’

‘I have got a business to run, you know!’ Holly said, trying not to give him an inch, but the light in her eyes gave her away. ‘You’ll have to use the kitchen table at my place if you want my help.’

‘Is that an offer?’ Charlie asked carefully. ‘Does that mean you can actually bear to be in the same room as me again?’