Alice links her arm in mine and the two of us walk slowly back the way we’ve come, crossing the road to catch the next bus home. We don’t say a word about what’s just happened till we get off at the stop at the bottom of my road. Then, at last, we collapse in a fit of shocked giggles.

We did it! We actually did it. Now all I’ve got to worry about is pretending to be tired and forgetful when Mum gets home from taking Mrs. Samuels to the hospital, and with any luck that should be ages yet, because she said she’s going to take her to lunch afterward, and when Mum and Mrs. Samuels get together they can chat for hours on end.

A bit like me and Alice.

38

NOW

It’s Monday morning—the day of my scan—and Ross and I are about to leave for the hospital when his phone rings. I know straightaway that it’s work and that something urgent has come up. I can see it in the sudden droop of his shoulders, hear it in the resigned tone of his voice.

“I’m so sorry, Lizzie,” he says when he’s finished the call. “One of my terminally ill patients is close to death. I’ve got to attend.”

I try hard not to let my disappointment show, because I know it can’t be helped and of course he must go, but I’ve been so looking forward to this scan and I really wanted Ross to be there with me. He’s been unusually quiet and out of sorts since Catherine moved in, even though she’s kept out of our way as much as possible. Apart from a couple of evenings where she’s sat and watched the telly with us, and the odd encounter over breakfast, most of the time she’s either been out or studying up in her room.

Ross grabs his bag and jacket from the study and heads for the door. “I’ll text you as soon as I’m done and, if you’re still at the hospital, I’ll pick you up. Okay?” He looks at his watch. “You’d better phone for a cab to take you there. It’ll take too long if you go on the bus.”