After the hustle of an orderly and a nurse taking two women to the OR, the ward settled into relative silence. Jess checked her phone for the video but it hadn’t arrived. Unable to settle and lacking the concentration to read, she looked at photos of Leo and channel surfed. Whenever a nurse came in with medication or to take her temperature or check her IV, Jess asked, “Are there any more results?”

Each time, the nurse replied, “Your doctor’s in the OR. He’ll be around later this afternoon.”

“This afternoon?” Jess heard her voice rise. “Does that mean I’ll be staying another night?”

“Not necessarily but highly likely.”

For the first time since arriving at the hospital, Jess felt tears starting to well. “I miss my little boy.”

“It’s hard, isn’t it? I’ve got two boys—two and four—and they’re intense. Sometimes I think I’ll go mad if I don’t get some breathing space, but after a couple of hours away from them, I get all fidgety.” She patted Jess’s arm. “You look pretty washed out. Try and sleep.”

After the nurse left, Jess heard her talking to someone in the corridor and then Karen walked into the ward carrying a vase filled with vivid gerberas. Jess blinked, wondering if she was imagining her, but as her eyes came back into focus, it was definitely Karen. Surprise was followed by relief and this time, her tears spilled.

“Hello, Jess.”

“Hi,” she said thickly.

Karen set down the vase and rummaged through her handbag, producing a packet of travel tissues. “Here.”

“Thanks.” Jess wiped her face and blew her nose. “Sorry. It’s just I didn’t expect you or anyone else to come.”

“I would have come earlier, but I didn’t know you were here until Alice mentioned it around 9:00 last night.” Karen pulled out the visitor’s chair and sat facing her. “How are you?”

“Woozy. I’ve had an MRI and an ultrasound but the only thing I know for sure is I have a UTI. I’ve had them before but I’ve never felt this rotten.”

“Sounds like you’re in the best place then.”

Another wave of nausea rolled through Jess and she grabbed for the vomit bowl. She had so many questions she wanted to ask Karen—did Libby know she was visiting? Had Karen seen Leo this morning? Was Libby being kind to him? But instead she heard herself asking, “Why did you come?”

“Because no one should be alone in the hospital.”

Jess heaved, bringing up bitter yellow liquid.

Karen passed Jess a glass of water. “I’ll get the nurse.”

Jess rinsed and spat, trying to rid her mouth of the heavy metallic taste and then Karen was back, offering a damp face cloth. The nurse arrived with an injection to stop the vomiting and after that, Jess lay back and closed her eyes.