‘Don’t be. We had mince pies on the ward and carol singers dropping by at all hours before the holidays and anyway, this year, I’m actually glad I was here…’ she said thinking of finding that note and the fact that if she hadn’t she might have spent years never seeing through Eddie for what he really was.

‘I’m pleased you were here too,’ Finn said.

‘Don’t be too happy about it, if it wasn’t for me, you mightn’t have ended up underneath the wheels of that motorbike.’ It was the truth. Finn had thrown her to safety out of its path and taken the brunt of the collision.

‘I’m still glad,’ he said hoarsely. And for a moment, when their eyes met, there was that uncomfortable feeling that perhaps something more was being said than either of them meant. She was saved from making a complete fool of herself by Estelle’s mobile phone going off.

‘Oh no, I must have forgotten to switch it off. I’m so sorry.’ It was one of the topmost cardinal sins of ICU – no phones. It was right up there with don’t visit if you have a vomiting bug.

‘Go on, go and answer it outside before you set every heart monitor off in the place,’ Finn said, laughing.

Wafting a heady scent of expensive perfume after her, Estelle glided easily between them and towards the foot of the bed. ‘Behave yourself when I’m gone, you.’ Estelle was unrecognisable from that frightened girl who’d turned up that first night. It seemed that as Finn’s condition had improved her confidence had grown and she’d become older, sexier and territorial.

‘Not much chance of anything else.’ Finn laughed.

‘I probably should be getting back on shift.’ Liv went to follow Estelle out of the unit also.

‘Really, is that all you get? Five minutes and then they need you back?’ He was smiling at her, almost challenging her to wait a little longer.

‘No, of course not, but I’m sure you’d much prefer to spend the time with Estelle than having to make an effort with a perfect stranger at the moment.’ The truth was, Liv wasn’t even sure why she’d come up here. After all, he was obviously on the mend, and there wasn’t much more she could do for him now, apart from handing back the gift she’d been holding for the mysterious M as soon as they released him onto the main ward.

‘I like having you here,’ he said easily. ‘It’s…’ he paused, then settled on: ‘distracting.’