Mr Peters cuts me off again as though I am nothing.

Nobody.

‘Lucy.’ He checks his watch as though he has somewhere more pressing to be. ‘I appreciate your medical training but orthopaedics—’

‘But you know—’

‘I’m sorry. I really have to get to a meeting. I wanted to pop in and see Kieron when I heard he’d been readmitted. I’ll be back later, around six. Let’s talk then.’ He marches towards the doors without a backward glance and there’s nothing else I can do but sit by Kieron’s bed as he sleeps. The ward is busy but I feel so lonely. So utterly, hopelessly, irretrievably lonely.

It’s a relief when Aidan calls me back.

‘Kieron’s in hospital. He’s got another infection,’ I blurt out as soon as we are connected.

‘So soon? Has Mr Peters seen him?’

‘Yes. I tried to talk to him again about Kieron’s long-term prognosis but he…’ My throat contracts. ‘He didn’t listen.’

‘I’ll be with you both as soon as I can. Do you need anything?’

‘Can you pop into the school and let Connor know that Kieron’s been readmitted? I don’t want to tell him by text.’

‘You want me to go to the school?’ Aidan asks me to clarify. I know what he is really asking is does he have to face Mr Marshall. He doesn’t want to. Neither of us do. And yet we send Connor to school every day. It isn’t fair. A wave of guilt washes over me. I’m still feeling terrible from Kieron’s revelation that Connor thinks I love his brother more than him. I teeter on a high wire between my two children. How do other parents make it seem so effortless?

Aidan strides through the door. I fling my arms around his neck, breathing in his comforting smell of hay and horses and something else…

‘Have you been drinking?’ I ask, hearing the note of irritation rising in my voice.

‘Just a quick one.’

Aidan turns his attention to Kieron and they begin to chat. Shortly afterwards, the doors fly open again and Connor hurries towards us flanked by Tyler and Ryan. Five people around one bed will be frowned upon but Tyler and Ryan are fond of Kieron.

‘Ten minutes,’ I say sternly, but I’m pleased they are here. Kieron is too.

‘Doesn’t seem like five minutes since we visited you here last time, Kier,’ says Ryan. ‘You fancy one of the nurses or something?’

A flush spreads across Kieron’s neck but he doesn’t deny it.

‘You do!’ Connor perches on the side of the bed. ‘You never said. Who?’

Kieron shakes his head. ‘No one,’ he mumbles.

‘An older woman! Once you’re home I’ll come round and race you on a game of Forza on Xbox. Take your mind off her,’ Tyler says.