“Indeed it is, my dear!”

Thankfully, my audience was easily pleased. I could only hope Norman was going to get that lucky. And with that thought I was catapulted well and truly back from my stargazing.

“Shit, Leonard. Where’s...what happened? When did...how long have I been here? What’s...what’s the time? Norman...”

I wasn’t even sure myself what I was trying to ask, but I knew I needed to catch up. I struggled to raise myself in the bed and Leonard placed a very firm but gentle hand on my shoulder to push me back down.

“Not to worry, Sadie. Just you lie back and relax. You’re going to be okay. You’ve got, um...”

He reached over to the end of the bed and unhooked a chart, pushing his glasses back on his nose so he could make out the notes.

“Now let me just check to make sure I’ve got this right. Ah yes, an obstruction in, um...your small bowel. Probably caused by the old surgery on your tummy.”

I was pretty sure that I’d never told Leonard anything about my unusual start to life during our early-morning tea sessions, but he didn’t seem at all curious and just continued scanning the notes.

“I’ve spoken to the doctor, Sadie, which was rather a... Well, anyhow, he did eventually disclose some information after I... Well, let’s just say it might be best if you called me Uncle Lenny when he does his next rounds.” He leaned forward, gave me a wink and squeezed my hand. “Anyhow, he’s deciding whether you need to have new surgery to fix the issue, but he thinks for now they can probably manage it with the antibiotics and pain drugs, and it can possibly, maybe, perhaps wait until we...until you get back to Penzance.”

Don’t get me wrong, I was very glad my number hadn’t been up on that bench in Biggar, but at that very moment I didn’t care if they’d decided to serve my obstructed small bowel up for staff lunches, like my father had suggested when I was born. I just needed to know that Norman was okay.

“Leonard! Will you please tell me what the time is?” I could hear the hysterical edge to my voice, but I didn’t have the strength to check it. “What about Norman? He’s on his own. Have you phoned him? Is he...we need to see if he’s okay!”

“It’s five o’clock, but it’s...it’s all right, Sadie. I... I haven’t quite managed to telephone Norman because, well, as you know, I mistakenly took your phone and the battery has now unfortunately died. I did take the liberty of going in your handbag to retrieve my own phone, but then I realized I don’t have young Norman’s telephone number programmed in anyhow. A rather unfortunate oversight, to be honest. But I thought when you awoke you might possibly know it from memory? I could...” Leonard’s voice trailed off as he saw the look on my face. As if. “No, no, of course. I... I’m quite sure he’s fine and safe, though, and it...it won’t be dark for hours. I’m sure...”