‘Yes, that’s right, it’s her granddaughter, Sofia, here,’ she said into the phone, giving Maddie a look of concern as she mouthed her thanks and gratefully lowered herself into the chair. Maddie stopped packing away her equipment and moved in closer to hear what was being said, fidgeting with her butterfly necklace as she always did when worried.

Sofia paused and glanced again at Maddie. ‘I see. Are you sure she doesn’t have concussion?’ Sofia nodded as she listened some more, seemingly taking it all in. ‘Oh yes, she has mentioned that name several times … No, I’m afraid we don’t know.’ More silence. ‘If you’re sure, then we’ll come in the morning, but please do call if anything changes.’

After saying goodbye, Sofia turned to Maddie and told her: ‘Granny has had a fall. Nothing too serious – she tripped over a ball of wool that had fallen from her knitting bag. She grazed her face when she landed on the carpet. The doctor checked her over and gave her the all-clear, then they helped her up to bed. She’s sleeping now. They don’t want to wake her but thought we should know as she’s been upset and has been talking about someone called Audrey again.’

‘Oh dear …’ Maddie creased her forehead, concerned for her grandmother. The same thing had happened with her last fall when she fractured her hip. In the distress and confusion, and immense pain, no doubt, she had become very anxious, wringing her hands and asking after Audrey, desperate to know where she was and whether she was OK. Maddie had found it very difficult to witness her beloved grandmother so upset, especially when they were utterly helpless to make it better for her because the simple truth was … they had absolutely no idea who Audrey was. ‘Poor Granny. At her time of life she shouldn’t have a care in the world, other than which pudding she’ll choose for dessert, or what she’d like to knit next, or the best book to select from the library trolley. You know, all the lovely things in life.’ Maddie thought of their dad’s gentle, unassuming mum, who loved knitting and reading and sharing a bag of her favourite Liquorice Allsorts with her friends over a good chinwag and a cup of tea. The last thing Maddie wanted was for Granny to be upset and tearful. She resolved that, first thing in the morning, she was going to make it her mission to find out who Audrey was, and put her granny’s mind at rest …

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