Amy kept her there a moment longer. ‘My husband said he was told I could be going home any day now – is that right?’ Knowing Frank, it could have been sheer wishful thinking.

‘Well, yes, as far as I know, the doctor is satisfied with your progress, but I think it will be a day or two yet before he discharges you.’ She wagged a warning finger. ‘He’ll pack you off with a whole list of instructions – and skipping breakfast is not one of them!’

An hour later, the doctor confirmed the nurse’s words. ‘I think it might be wise to give it another couple of days,’ he told Amy. ‘That’s my advice.’ Easing himself on to the edge of the bed, he suggested kindly, ‘They tell me you’ve refused to see the priest. I know it’s none of my business, but I do think you should talk with him. A priest can always help in matters of this kind.’ Ignoring this well-meant advice, Amy came straight to the point. ‘I’d like to go home now, doctor.’

Regarding her for a moment, he seemed to be turning the idea over in his mind before soundly rejecting it. ‘No. I’m sorry, Mrs Tattersall, but I think you need a couple more days at least.’ And there was no changing his mind.

Moving away, he spoke privately to the ward sister. ‘I’m not satisfied that Mrs Tattersall has fully accepted the loss of her child,’ he said. ‘I’m thinking of that young woman last year… the same kind of thing. She wouldn’t talk about losing the child either. She was quiet and withdrawn, and she refused to see the priest, just like Mrs Tattersall. We missed all the signs and let her go home. Two days later, if you remember, she hanged herself. We were wrong on that occasion, sister. I don’t mean to make the same mistake again.’

‘Very well, doctor, as you say.’ Though she wouldn’t have minded Amy going home sooner. She personally didn’t think the woman was suicidal, and there was always need for the bed.

Amy, however, had no intentions of leaving the matter there. Cadging some notepaper, a pen and an envelope from her neighbour, she shut out the world and wrote what was in her heart: