‘I gotta ask you something.’ Will licked his lips and worked his mouth before speaking. ‘I’m frightened. I don’t have a choice about dying now, but I don’t want to go without you or Mum here.’

‘We won’t leave you, Will. I promise. We won’t leave you alone.’

He nodded. ‘You want to know about Mum and James?’

Zara leaned forward. ‘Hell yeah!’

Will tried to smile. ‘I think it started when I had my first round of treatment a couple of years ago. They got to be friends because she was coming to the hospital when I was there, and they’d see each other regularly.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me? Has she ever said anything?’

Will shook his head. ‘Not a word. And it wasn’t my business to tell you. Not my news.’

‘Ha! Isn’t she a dark horse?’

‘He’s nice.’

‘That’s all that matters.’

‘Who’s a dark horse?’ Lynda appeared at the doorway.

‘You, apparently,’ Zara answered, turning to look at her.

‘Me? Why?’

‘You and James.’

Lynda came into the room and sat on the edge of Will’s bed. ‘Me and James, what are you talking about?’

‘You’ve got a boyfriend, Mum. It was clear as day out there.’

Lynda dropped her gaze. ‘I have a friend,’ she said.

‘And we’re both very pleased, aren’t we, Will?’

Will nodded. ‘I’m glad that something good has come out of me dying.’

‘Will, what a thing to say!’ Lynda gasped.

‘It’s true, though. You wouldn’t have got to know James if it wasn’t for me.’

Will closed his eyes, but he had a smile on his face.

CHAPTER 16

Chapter 16

The laptop screen cast a soft glow over the bedroom. Will had been asleep for a couple of hours and Lynda for about the same time. Looking for something to take her mind off things and taking a sip of the tea she’d made, Zara flicked screens to see if there was anything happening at any of the troughs. Will had talked about seeing foxes at times he hadn’t been able to sleep. Maybe the sheep would come in for a midnight drink.

She was trying to get her head around the news about her mum and James. She was pleased for them. Her mum had been on her own for a long time and was entitled to be happy. Even so, it felt like the final chapter had been closed on her dad. That left her sad and conflicted. It seemed to add to the grief she was feeling about Will. She was hurting, and she felt incredibly lonely. What she wouldn’t do for some arms around her tonight. She remembered the feeling of Karl’s hug and suddenly wanted to ring to ask him to come and sit with her. She wondered if Jack’s hugs would be as good.