A beat. “I love you too.”

Kate’s eyes slipped closed. If only Tilly meant it the way she did.

When she felt Tilly relax, Kate pulled back. She forced a smile. “How long are you going to be here?”

“I can go home today.”

“Really?”

“It was laparoscopic surgery. I just have to wait for my surgeon to come around and see me. The nurse said they’ll probably discharge me after that. They want to keep an eye on my blood pressure, though, for a while longer.” Her eyes searched Kate’s. “Can you take me home?”

“Yes. Of course. I have the nun mobile parked just down the street.”

Tilly rolled her eyes. She hesitated. “I need to ask something else of you too.”

“Anything.”

“My friend is visiting.”

“Oh.” A friend? Was it somebody from the city? That principal from St. Matthew’s who had been like an older sister to her for years? “Well, we have time until they get here,” she suggested. “Visiting hours haven’t started yet. I sort of snuck in.”

Tilly’s brow furrowed. “No. I have…” She paused, a light blush creeping above the neckline of her gown. “I need you to go down to the chemist for me. The nurses have only given me…” She gestured weakly to a packet of large sanitary napkins on the bedside table.

Kate’s gaze settled on the bedside table. For God’s sake, were those maternity pads? “You have your period?” she clarified.

Tears welled in Tilly’s eyes and she squeezed them shut, wet beads rolling down her cheeks. “I can’t ask Declan. I need you to get me something smaller than those.”

Kate tensed at Tilly’s overreaction. Obviously, the anaesthetic hadn’t completely worn off, and combined with the shock of emergency surgery, Tilly’s mind and body were still struggling to make sense of the past twelve hours.

“Hey, don’t cry, don’t cry…” She leaned closer to rub at Tilly’s calf through the cotton blanket. “It’s done. It’s all over.”

Tilly swiped angrily at the wetness on her jawline, and Kate reached for a tissue on the bedside table. “Thank you,” Tilly sobbed.

When the tears stopped and Tilly relaxed, her eyes slipping closed every few seconds, Kate stepped out. Downstairs in the chemist by reception, Kate filled a basket with anything else Tilly could possibly need. A toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, lip balm, deodorant, a cheap, plastic comb. After leaving Tilly’s antibiotics script with the pharmacist, she stepped outside to the coffee cart and ordered a cappuccino and muffin for herself.

Coffee in hand, she returned to Ward C to find that, not only had Tilly’s IV been removed, but in the short time she’d been downstairs, her surgeon had been and gone. Tilly was sitting upright in bed, chatting away as the nurse wheeled her table across her lap and set her breakfast tray in front of her.

Kate placed the plastic bag on the chair beside Tilly’s bed and smiled as the nurse disappeared back into the corridor.