‘I’m sorry, visiting is over.’ Nurse Brogan was now at the foot of the bed, silencing the ringing of the brass bell as it rested in her hand.

Mary Kate looked down at Nicholas, his torso strikingly thin against the white of the hospital pillows.

‘Don’t go,’ he whispered again.

He had never done that before and Mary Kate’s heart beat wildly with anxiety. To gain a few more precious moments, she picked up the feeding mug from the bedside table and held it to his lips. ‘I’ll just give him this before I go,’ she said to Nurse Brogan, who was glancing nervously towards the door.

‘Nurse Brogan, have all the visitors left now, please?’ said Sister pointedly from her office doorway.

‘Yes, Sister. Almost.’

‘Good. Shut the ward doors then, please.’

Nurse Dana Brogan looked towards Mary Kate with pleading eyes.

‘I love you.’ Mary Kate pressed her soft cool lips against Nicholas’s own, which were hot and dry. ‘I love you so, so much.’ She tasted her own salty tears.

He tried to speak. He was too exhausted, but his eyes, only moments before filled with fear, had now softened with love as he lightly squeezed her hand.

‘When I come back, we’re going to talk about our holiday in Cornwall last summer. Do you remember? We’ll plan another, just as soon as you’re better.’

He nodded and his eyes never left hers.

‘All those long walks along the beach and that little hotel with the smart restaurant and the waiter who told us those stories about the smugglers and the village.’ Mary Kate looked up at Nurse Brogan. ‘He loves seafood and he ate it every day,’ she said. ‘Have a sleep now, Nicholas, and dream about those lovely waves and the seagulls and the fishing boats we watched coming in.’

His eyes were closing and his face had relaxed.

‘And the sky was so blue, not a cloud anywhere – do you remember?’

He had taken her to Cornwall because he thought it might remind her of the west of Ireland, the closest thing to her homeland that he could show her. His eyes were shut now and he let out a deep and peaceful sigh.

‘I’ll stay with him every minute I can until you’re back,’ said Dana as Mary Kate carefully placed his now heavy hand on the turned-down sheet. ‘If you don’t want to go all the way home, Mrs Tanner will look after you in the café at the main entrance.’

Mary Kate was so choked with tears that her throat felt thick and burnt and she could barely speak. ‘Thank you,’ she rasped, under the stern gaze of Sister, who was tutting outside her office and closing the ward doors herself. ‘I know,’ Mary Kate continued, ‘Mrs Tanner is so nice. She always has a cup of tea and a spare handkerchief ready. I have time though, so I’ll go home.’

Dana Brogan took the warm hand that had just held Nicholas’s. ‘Go on now, and don’t be worrying. I’m here and I won’t be going anywhere until you get back. He’s safe with me.’