Jamie laughs. ‘I really didn’t do anything, Jake. The driver saw you and put on the brakes.’

‘You’re a lifesaver, Jamie. A hero.’

Jamie shrugs and smiles at her with perfect white teeth.

Archer looks away, takes off her coat and drapes it over the chair. ‘I need to talk to the doctor or a nurse.’

‘I should get going,’ says Jamie.

‘Jamie has his own business, Grace. I’d say he was worth a few bob.’

‘Grandad!’

Jamie laughs. ‘I do all right, thank you, Jake.’ He takes out a business card and hands it to her. ‘Here’s my number. I’ve enjoyed my time with your grandad. Do give me a call or text and let me know how he gets on.’

Archer hesitates but takes the card. ‘Thank you again.’

‘You’re welcome.’

‘Bye, Jake.’

‘Bye, Jamie and best of luck to you, lad.’

Archer pockets the card and sees a nurse at the ward desk. ‘I’ll be back in a moment.’

The nurse is male with a neatly trimmed beard. Archer introduces herself and asks for an update.

‘We did a scan on your grandad and found he’s had another stroke. A mini one.’

Archer can feel her pulse quickening. ‘Did he have it today?’

‘No, it could have been days or weeks back. It might have happened when he was sleeping or perhaps he had a turn or something. Did he mention anything?’

‘He sometimes gets dizzy spells and has to lie down. I thought that was just part of his early dementia.’

‘Likelihood is it caused one of his spells. We’d like to keep him in for the night, maybe two, to keep an eye on him.’

‘Of course.’

‘I explained everything to your husband.’

Archer blinks. ‘My husband?’

‘I beg your pardon. Your partner?’

‘I’ve never met him until now.’

The nurse frowns. ‘How funny. I looked at you both and thought, now there’s a good-looking couple.’

‘He helped my grandad when he fell over.’

‘A knight in shining armour, eh. I wouldn’t mind being rescued by him,’ he laughs.

Archer isn’t sure what to say to that. She looks back at Grandad who has dozed off.

‘You should let him sleep. Maybe come back later,’ says the nurse.

‘Please call me if something happens. You have my contact details.’

The nurse checks his system and reads out Archer’s number.

‘That’s it. Call me anytime of the day or night.’

Archer exits the hospital and looks for a cab on the busy Euston Road. There are none to be seen.

‘Hey!’ a man’s voice calls.

She sees Jamie peering out of the back of a black cab. ‘Can I give you a lift?’

Archer dithers for a moment before thinking ‘what the hell?’ and climbing inside.

‘Where are you going?’ he asks.

‘Charing Cross.’

‘Can we go to Charing Cross first, please,’ Jamie tells the driver.