‘No, I think we should wait for Sarah to come home,’ Mo replied as she walked across from her bed to look out of the window impatiently. Bloody kids and their diseases, she thought, another reason for not wanting any. ‘If we’re stuck indoors with a sick child, we may as well make the most of it. Do you want to pop out to the offie and pick us up a bottle of something?’

‘I don’t think we should be drinking with Tommy poorly in our bed. Once Sarah gets home, then I’ll take you out somewhere nice.’

‘Please, Sam, it’s not often we get any time together or have a drink, and she could be hours yet. Come on, let’s have some fun for a change,’ Mo urged, and flattered her eyelashes at her man.

‘OK, OK, you know I can’t resist those eyes,’ Samuel said, kissing Mo on the cheek. ‘I’ll be back soon.’

Samuel had been gone for about half an hour when Mo saw Sarah walking down the road. She went out to the landing and when Sarah came in she called out to her over the banisters. ‘Sarah, come up here. Tommy’s not well and I’ve got him in my bed.’

Sarah looked panicked as she ran up the stairs, so Mo said reassuringly, ‘Don’t worry, he’s not too bad. It’s just his chest playing up again. I reckon all the coughing has worn him out.’

‘I’m so sorry to have ruined your day,’ Sarah said after checking on Tommy. ‘Where’s Sam?’

‘I sent him to pick up a bottle. In fact, he should be back by now,’ Mo replied, and began to worry what was taking him so long.

‘Maybe he stopped to have a drink. After all, I doubt he was too happy about minding a poorly child.’

‘Maybe, but he doesn’t normally like to drink in our local. He said he feels a bad atmosphere in there. Anyhow, he wasn’t bothered about looking after Tommy.’

‘He’s a nice bloke.’

‘Yeah, I know,’ Mo agreed, but suddenly tensed. ‘Sarah, I know this sounds silly, but I’ve got one of those strange feelings again.’ Mo could feel her stomach churning, and her instincts were telling her that something was wrong.

‘What, like you had when we bumped into your brother?’

‘Yes, exactly like that,’ Mo said, and looked out of the window, tapping her foot. ‘Panic over, here he comes,’ she added with relief.

‘I’ll take Tommy downstairs. Thanks ever so much for looking after him,’ Sarah said.

‘Wrap him in the blanket. You can give it back to me later.’

Sarah smiled her thanks and as she was scooping the child from the bed, Samuel walked into the room.

Mo gasped. ‘What on earth happened to you?’

‘I … er … tripped on the kerb and fell over.’