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‘Adam,’ Rob said quietly, ‘are you absolutely sure about this? It’s just –’

‘I’ll take it from here, Rob,’ Adam said. ‘I’ll bring Izzy up myself.’

Rob flinched. He took a deep breath. ‘You’re making a mistake,’ he said. ‘Please don’t do this.’

Adam shook his head. ‘Even you,’ he said, disappointed in his brother. He needed Rob to be strong, not swayed by the emotional blackmail of the others.

‘It’s not like that,’ Rob said. ‘I don’t think you understand …’

‘I understand everything,’ Adam hissed.

‘What’s wrong?’ Izzy said, looking fearfully from one to the other.

‘Nothing at all, Sweet-pea,’ Adam said, forcing a smile onto his face. ‘Uncle Rob is going to get himself a coffee and wait outside in the sun. We’ll go up to see Mummy ourselves.’

‘Oh, that’s a good idea,’ Izzy said, beaming at them. ‘Then, when she comes down with us, she’ll get an amazing surprise to see Uncle Rob waiting for her.’ She giggled. ‘It’s perfect. I won’t tell her you’re here, Uncle Rob, I promise.’

Rob nodded, but said nothing. He stopped walking, andAdam took Izzy’s hand and they made their way to the stairs, just the two of them.

Izzy’s chatter stopped as they entered the ICU wing. She gripped Adam’s hand tighter. He stopped and crouched down. ‘Sweet-pea, you don’t have to visit Mummy now. You can change your mind, it’s absolutely fine. I’ve told you that Mummy is very sick. She’s puffy and not like she used to look. It’s a bit scary, but it’s just the medicine they’re giving her. I don’t want you to get a fright. We can do this on another day.’

Izzy shook her head from side to side. ‘No, Daddy. It has to be today. I have to see her today to wake her up. Mummy would never not wake up to see me on my Communion Day.’

Adam bit his lip. ‘OK, but remember I told you that the medicine also makes her sleep, so she probably won’t wake up, Izzy.’

Izzy placed her hands on her father’s shoulders. ‘Daddy, stop worrying. Mummy will start getting better today. Everything is going to be fine now.’

Adam didn’t know what to say. He knew that if he tried to stop her seeing Sarah today, she’d have a complete meltdown and never forgive him. In a way, it might be a good thing, easing her into the realization that Sarah wasn’t going to get better. She needed to see her mother, and Adam hadn’t the heart to stop her.

Angela came over to them, smiling widely. She held her hand up to her chest. ‘Oh, my goodness, you’re a vision. Give me a twirl.’ She handed Izzy a ten-euro note.

‘Oh, no, I couldn’t take your money. Daddy says nurses get paid really badly and treated like servants and I should only ever be a doctor when I grow up.’

Adam wanted the floor to swallow him.

Angela laughed. ‘Well, he’s right, we do, but I saved this especially for you.’

‘Are you sure?’ Izzy asked.

‘Positive.’

‘Well, thank you very much. Let’s see Mummy now,’ Izzy said.

‘Yes,’ Adam said, ‘but we have to put on the special clothes. I know you’re wearing your beautiful dress, but I have to give you an apron, a little mask and gloves. We can’t let our germs get onto Mummy because she’s not strong enough to fight them.’

‘Where’s my apron?’

Adam got the gear and helped Izzy into hers. Izzy was washing her hands when Angela pulled Adam aside. ‘Adam, are you sure about this? I’ve tried to make Sarah look somewhat presentable but I have to stress once again that I don’t think it’s a good idea.’

‘She needs to see her,’ Adam said. ‘She won’t stop until she does.’

Angela crouched down. ‘Izzy, as I’m sure your daddy told you, your mummy doesn’t look like before because of all the medicine. I had to put sunglasses on her eyes to protect them and –’

Izzy held up her hand. ‘I know Mummy is sick and the medicine is strong and she’s puffy and sleepy, but it doesn’t matter because today all that is going to change. Come on, Daddy, let’s go.’

As they approached the door, the occupational therapist came out. She stopped dead when she saw Izzy.

‘Thank you for helping my mummy,’ Izzy said to her. ‘I’m Izzy, her daughter, and today is my Communion Day, I’m going to wake her up.’