‘She’s got a knife,’ I yell, and Rosamund swings round, but before she can speak, the door slams hard against her head, with the sheer force of something behind it. She slumps forwards, her head cracking against the corner of the kitchen unit, her eyes rolling.

I gulp back tears and confusion as I look up into my brother’s dark eyes, as he moves into the room in his wheelchair. ‘Thank God,’ I say, breathless. ‘Call 999. Dad needs an ambulance. Fast.’

Chapter 49

Present Day

Amelia

Someone knocking on a door some distance away wakes me from a fitful sleep. My neck is sore and bandaged. My head throbs in pain. Two nurses, talking in whispers as they hurry through the Intensive Care Unit waiting room, pay me no attention as I shuffle up in the fake leather chair.

I squint at the sun’s rays shining through the high windows, dust particles raining down on the long, narrow room. I grab my bag, and rummage for a couple of painkillers.

Thomas is asleep in his chair, his mouth open, making a rumbling sound like a train.

We’ve been at the hospital since the ambulance brought Dad here at midnight. Earlier we’d taken it in turns to collect coffee, and chocolate and bags of crisps from the machines, trying to keep awake, just in case they brought news about Dad, but eventually our tiredness took over.

‘Any news?’ Thomas rubs sleep from his eyes, his voice croaky.

I shake my head. ‘Not yet.’

He brushes his fingers over his dry lips.

‘Do you want some water?’ I rise and make my way to the water cooler, and fill two cups.

I hand Thomas one, as he jerks a sideways thumb towards the door. ‘Should we ring the bell, do you think? Ask how Dad is?’

‘They said they would let us know.’ I swallow down the two tablets. ‘I know it’s hard being patient, but they are doing everything they can.’

It’s 9.30 a.m. when we finally hear.

‘Your dad’s out of danger,’ the doctor says as he approaches, and we let go of the tears we’ve been holding on to, and hug each other. ‘He’s going to be OK. He’s sleeping now. Go home. Get some rest. You should be able to see him by early evening.’

Chapter 50

Present Day

Amelia

It’s been three weeks since Rosamund’s horrendous attack, and although Dad is home from hospital, he is far from well.

Now, it feels as though the whole experience happened to someone else, not me, as though I witnessed it from an outside viewpoint looking in, as though I was never there at all. Maybe it’s my brain’s way of trying to deal with it.