‘Oh, angel, I’m so sorry. I was at the church. Thought that’s maybe where your brother had gone. He wasn’t there, but I stayed for a bit to tidy up your dad’s grave, then walked down to the Cape,’ she hesitated, ‘I was upset, angry with myself, thought the air would do me good. Gareth found me on the lane and we came straight here. I’m—’

Max interrupted her. ‘Unless you need me, Angie, I was thinking I’d head back. If you’re staying here, and Tamsyn would prefer to be at home, I don’t mind running her back. You might not hear anything for a while and it’s pretty dismal here.’

‘But isn’t it out of—’

I had a vivid flashback of Granfer’s mouth frothing with spit and blood. The scarlet stains on the bedclothes. His jigsaw scattered across his floor.

‘No,’ I pulled away from my mother. ‘I’m not going back there.’

‘Why don’t you come home with me then? Your mother can pick you up when she’s ready.’

I looked up at him and nodded.

My mother protested.

‘Please, Mum?’

‘But what about Mrs Davenport? No. Tam, please stay with me.’

‘That mustn’t concern you,’ said Max, who’d obviously heard her. ‘I’ll look after Tamsyn. Nothing will upset her. Eleanor won’t be a problem. Tamsyn? What do you want to do? Stay here with your mother?’

There was only one place I wanted to be.

‘No,’ I said quietly. ‘I want to come back with you.’

At that moment the nurse approached us. ‘Mrs Tresize? Can we speak with you?’

My mother became flustered. Looking between me and the nurse.

Max rested his hand on her arm. ‘You go. She’ll be fine. I’ll look after her.’

Mum hesitated for a moment before nodding quickly.‘Thank you,’ she said as she hurried after the nurse.‘I’ll call as soon as we know anything.’

Max then smiled at me. ‘I’ll get the car,’ he said gently. ‘Meet me out front in a couple of minutes.’

I nodded.

I watched him walk out of the revolving door. Mum came back to me. Her face pale.

‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’

Her face crumpled. ‘He’s not in a good way, but he’s hanging on for now. He’s in the best place and that’s down to you. If you hadn’t…’ She lifted the back of her hand to her mouth, regained her composure, nodded to give herself strength.