All I could do was pray it wouldn’t work, that they wouldn’t be a match. That this wouldn’t be the way my husband was saved.

‘He’s dying.’

Bill watched my face, trying to read me. It was so long since Mike had properly looked at me that I found this strange, part intoxicating, part suffocating. ‘It won’t come to that. They’ll find a way.’

Briefly, I rested my head on my arms as I sat at the kitchen table. It was late; it had been such a long day. Thank God again for Bill, making dinner, taking care of Benji. ‘Slicing up Cassie? I don’t think he would even want that.’

‘The transplant list, then. It’s designed to save people like him.’

But I knew people died all the time, waiting for organs. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I shouldn’t dump this on you.’ I’d no idea what Bill must be feeling, watching me fight for my husband. ‘I have to do everything I can for him. He can’t speak for himself and – for Cassie, Benj . . .’

Bill made an impatient gesture, as if to say I’d no need to explain. I felt he was waiting for something from me, the same feeling I’d so often had in college, when the frazzle of dawn would interrupt our long nights spent talking over cheap red wine or Nescafé. Back then I’d always ignored it – always gone running when Mike called. I couldn’t do the same again. We hadn’t talked about what was happening with us, the nights we’d spent together in the same bed, the fact he was now ensconced in my house, cooking my meals and caring for my children.

I looked up; Bill was standing in front of me with the air of a man about to say something important. ‘If Cassie’s not a match, I think you should ask Jake to get tested.’ I blinked. He said, ‘I know it’s crazy, but Mike is going to die without a donation.’

‘Jesus, Bill. Are you serious?’

‘I mean, the circumstances aren’t ideal. But Jake’s looking at some serious prison time, and if he donated to Mike the CPS might go easy on him, or even drop the case. I’ve been looking into it. He was under eighteen when it happened, so with time already served and various pleas, he could end up doing no time at all. And Karen – I know you two had words, but she can’t have honestly expected you to support her over Mike. You were in an impossible situation. I think you did the best you could. She’ll see that eventually, I think.’