Mum nodded. ‘I’d asked her to watch out for any incidents. She knew I was going to tell you this weekend, but that I wanted you to enjoy your special day out first.’

I put my hand over my mouth, tears rushing to my eyes. ‘Oh my God! Parkinson’s? Are they sure?’

‘One hundred per cent. Hey, don’t cry. I’m not about to die, you know. As my consultant, Dr Steadman, keeps telling me, it’s a treatable condition that I need to learn to live with, not a life-threatening illness. Patronising git.’

I couldn’t help it. Great big tears rolled down my cheeks and plopped into the water. Mum held out her arms and I bobbed across the hot tub for a cuddle while my body wracked with sobs. How could this have happened? Mum had always been so healthy and so active. How could someone so active suddenly have their body give up on them? My mind was racing. I knew so little about Parkinson’s. Would she need a wheelchair? Would it reduce her life expectancy? Could she work? Would she be able to look after Logan? The more the questions flooded into my mind, the more I sobbed.

Mum whispered reassurances and I took several deep breaths as I tried to pull myself together.

‘Sorry,’ I whispered when the tears finally subsided and Mum was able to let go of me. ‘Me turning into a blubbering mess is probably the last thing you need right now.’

‘It’s okay. I understand. I cried when they told me too.’

‘I wish you’d told me about your appointment. I’d have booked time off and been there for you. You shouldn’t have had to go through that on your own.’

‘Thank you, but I wouldn’t have expected you to do that and, of course, I didn’t think it was going to be anything serious. I wondered if it was something to do with arthritis, like my mum had, but when my doctor suspected Parkinson’s and referred me, Rachel came to see the consultant with me. She’s been amazing, as always. I’m so glad you and Karen became friends because I don’t know what I’d have done without her over the years.’

‘What happens next?’

‘I’m on medication and I should really do some exercise, but it’s finding the time.’

‘Does exercise help?’

‘It’s meant to.’

‘Then you definitely need to do it.’

‘But Logan—’

‘—will understand if you explain why you’re doing it. I take it he doesn’t know?’

She shook her head. ‘I wanted to tell you first and I don’t want to worry him.’

‘What about the stopping and the shuffling? Surely he’s noticed that.’