There is one person missing, though. One person and a dog.

My eyes smart. Don’t cry. This is the big moment for all of us.

‘Gemma couldn’t come?’ I whisper to Dad.

‘She didn’t want to be in the way.’ His voice catches on the last couple of words, which doesn’t help my efforts not to cry. ‘But I could call her, so you can say goodbye before you leave Bristol?’

I nod. Suddenly I want to get the ringing over with. Fern records on her phone as I grip the piece of rope underneath the bell. ‘I’ll never forget you guys, or the hospital, or Bristol. You’ve been mega. No, you’ve been ultra!’

I pull the cord towards me and the metal clapper rings against the side, and my fingers and ears vibrate at the same pitch.

The second time it’s even louder and seems to last for ever. But now applause drowns it out, and I clap too, back at the people who helped me get to today. And Fern is crying and even Dr de Silva’s eyes are bigger than usual.

The tears are falling down my cheeks too, and it feels like a relief to let out a month’s worth of fear and hope.

Casey Parr is back and this time she will be unstoppable.

Chapter 49: Gemma

When my mobile rings, it’s Dan, and I ignore the way my heart leaps when I hear his voice. ‘Casey wants to say goodbye. But you’ll have to hurry – she’s about to leave Bristol.’

I bustle Bear into the Mini and break the speed limit driving towards the unit. I don’t want to miss her. Miss them.

But when Bear and I race into the quad – ignoring the NO DOGS signs – Casey is nowhere to be seen. I’m too late. As I sink onto a bench, I hear children’s voices: a gaggle of kids are emerging from the path leading to the university pool.

It’s less than four weeks since another group stopped me and Dan in our tracks. In that time I’ve felt sexy and desirable again. Learned from Casey that there are other ways to have children in my life, if tomorrow’s test comes back negative.

And, of course, I’ve fallen in and out of love.

Bear barks, but I can’t see anybody. ‘Shh, you’re not even meant to be in the grounds.’

But as the last straggler of the crocodile comes out, Bear’s pulling like crazy. And there, behind the school group, are Casey and Dan, walking hand in hand.

What about the tumour? I’m close enough now to Dan and Casey to see the same fierce happiness in their violet-grey eyes, and to see they’ve been crying.

Now I’m crying too.

‘Bob’s shrunk!’ Casey calls out, and my tears blur everything. Bear jumps and she catches him in her arms. I remember how she pulled away from him the first time we met. What a month it’s been for all of us . . .