Madi closed her eyes. When she’d left Norfolk at lunchtime yesterday, she’d had no idea all this was waiting for her. It was too much to take in. ‘I’d have to tell them about you first. It will come as just as big a shock to them as it has to you, I expect. And you’d have to be prepared for them to say no.’

‘Okay, they probably need time to absorb it all, but they’ll come round. Curiosity, if nothing else. And I can be stubborn.’

‘Don’t I know it!’ She laughed then. ‘Oh, George, I am sorry, really sorry, for letting things drift like this, for not talking to you.’

‘It takes two, and I was just as bad, but we can sort things out now, can’t we? Who knows, you might even be a grandma soon, if the treatment works out. Imagine that!’

‘I’m trying to.’ Madi gripped his hand and ran her fingers over his wedding ring. ‘God, it makes me sound old, but I have to admit I like the idea of it. I may even have to learn to knit! But you’re right. Family matters. I’ll try to introduce you to young Aaron. I think he’ll be an easier fish to fry than his mother at the moment. And then we’ll just have to take it from there, won’t we? See what happens …’

‘Morning, Madi.’ Faith emerged from the spare room, dressed but still bleary-eyed.

‘Hello, Faith. This is George, as Stuart’s probably told you. George … Faith.’

They nodded to each other.

‘Did you manage to sleep?’

‘Not well. I just keep thinking about Prue and what might have happened. We could so easily have lost her.’

‘But you didn’t.’ Madi stood up and put an arm around Faith’s shoulders. ‘Now, I’m going to rustle up some breakfast. Only cereal and toast, I’m afraid, until I can get some shopping in, and I know you’ll be anxious to get to the hospital, but you’ll need something inside you.’

‘I’ve already rung, on my mobile. They say she’s doing well. A peaceful night. They might even let her go home later today. So quick, when you think how badly she was hurt, but I guess they need the bed, don’t they? And I think that going home has to mean going home with us. She’s not fit enough to stay on here, and now that you’re back …’

‘Of course. She’ll need looking after, and who better to do that than her own mum? Shall I help you pack up her things? There are some clothes lying around, things in the bathroom, some shopping bags of things I don’t think she’s even worn yet …’

‘Thank you, yes. I really wouldn’t know which were yours and which were hers. If we could get that done this morning before we set off, we won’t need to come back and trouble you later.’

‘It’s no trouble, Faith, you know that. And if they decide to keep her for longer you can always sleep here again tonight if you need to.’