‘He’s not going to believe it!’ Jamie beamed. He was more excited than Sharon could remember seeing him for a long time. She felt it too. For her it was still mixed up with doubt and worry, like it was all too good to be true. But she had heard it for herself. The doctors were encouraged, the pneumonia was gone and Callie’s lung function was back, enough that they were going to start lowering her sedation and remove the antibiotics. Her daughter was going to wake naturally and it should be soon. Sharon had been warned that Callie would not be instantly as they remembered, she wouldn’t be properly lucid for a good few days at least. But Sharon didn’t care. It was a huge leap forwards and a moment she wanted to share with her husband. This was everything they had been praying for. Sharon had stepped away from the hospital bed, but even now she could see them changing Callie’s position to make her more comfortable for when she was awake.

For when she was awake.

For the first time, Sharon could dare to believe it was going to happen and she suddenly felt anxious to get back to her. She typed out a quick message asking Danny to call her back.

Chapter 22

Just to be pulling into the car park, to watch the barrier lift as he swiped his fob to access the staff car park behind the large DIY store that had been his place of work for more than six years, it all felt so good to Richard. His entrance was accepted. He was somewhere he belonged, somewhere he had a purpose. Somewhere he wasn’t just a dithering old fool. Glenn was usually right about most things and today he had been right about one for sure: it was time he did something about getting back to work.

The car park was busy. On a Saturday there were additional workers to cover the busier weekends. He took the last space then got out of the car, inhaling the familiar scent from the cardboard-crushing machine that was positioned next to the staff entrance, and feeling himself beaming as he made for the door. Elizabeth was so close on the other side she looked startled as he pushed the door. She was a heavy smoker, her cigarette already in her mouth like she couldn’t wait.

‘Oh! Hey, Richard!’ She had a large build, her face was always blotched somewhat red, and she had health issues that were restricting her duties more and more. When Richard was last here she was being moved from the shop floor to a permanent seat at the tills. He’d overheard some of the other staff complaining about it but Richard liked her. She lived on her own, craved a different life and found comfort in a bad lifestyle. It didn’t make her a bad person.

‘Elizabeth! Good to see you.’