In the silence that followed, Romy felt that menacing finger pointing at her again. She winced, her mind whirring. Why didn’t Michael have a convenient relative with nothing else to do? Some doting Cousin Mary who could ride in and take control. But Michael wasn’t really in touch with his extended family. He spoke to his three brothers only when they called him – which wasn’t often – and rarely travelled north to visit. He’d felt he had nothing in common with them since leaving home as a teenager.

When she didn’t reply at once, she saw the boys give each other a look. This is something they’ve already discussed, she thought.

‘Dad can afford nurses, can’t he?’ Leo asked tentatively.

Romy nodded. ‘He’s got insurance.’

Another glance between her sons, but neither spoke.

‘Mum …’ Leo looked her straight in the eye and took a long breath. ‘If I see to Dad when he gets out, will you help me …? Just for a week or two, while I settle him, find good people to come in,’ he added quickly, his look beseeching.

Rex took hold of her hand. ‘I know you and Dad aren’t together, Mum, but I can’t easily stay and it’s a lot for Leo to manage on his own.’

They both fell silent.

‘Once we’ve got carers settled in and he’s used to them, he’ll be fine, won’t he?’ Leo asked, when Romy still couldn’t find words to reply. ‘I can drop in all the time to make sure things are going OK. And, anyway, it shouldn’t be too long, the nurse said yesterday, before he can get round on his frame by himself.’

The image of Michael, staggering around the flat on a frame, dishevelled, dragging his leg, one arm completely useless, made Romy want to cry.

‘I don’t know which nurse you spoke to,’ she finally said, ‘but he’s going to need a lot of help for quite a while, Leo. He won’t be able to get to the loo, even wipe his bottom, take his medication, lift a plate – not for weeks.’

Both her sons looked embarrassed.

‘Poor Dad,’ Rex said.

‘Yeah,’ Leo agreed. ‘But the carers can do all that, Mum. And he’ll get physio …’

Romy didn’t reply. They had absolutely no idea. She’d seen her friend Angie’s husband, Barry, after his stroke. Angie had done every single thing for the man for months. Although she’d probably done too much, and made Barry even lazier than he already was. Michael isn’t lazy, she thought. He’ll be really motivated to get better.