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‘Can I see her?’ Adam asked again.

‘Very soon,’ Dr Mayhew said. ‘We’re just making sure she’s comfortable, but I’d say in about twenty minutes Angela will bring you in. I wouldn’t recommend that everyone entersthe room, however. We need to be mindful of infections and so forth. So perhaps, for tonight, just her husband should visit.’

Mia felt a visceral urge to be near Sarah, to see her, to hold her hand, but she fought against it. Adam had to come first, she knew that, but it didn’t make it any easier. She looked at her father and knew he was fighting the same emotions.

‘If you’ve no more questions for now,’ Professor Irwin said, ‘we’ll leave you for the time being. I’ll ask Nurse Fanagan to come in and introduce herself.’

They left the room and everyone sat in silence. Then the door pushed open and they all sat up, but it was Riley and Izzy coming back in.

‘Daddy,’ Izzy said, running to him and climbing onto his lap. ‘What did they say?’

Riley was looking from one to the other, obviously trying to read the mood.

‘They said,’ Adam said, putting his arms around Izzy, ‘that Mummy is very tired and needs to sleep for now, so that she has the strength to get better. Does that make sense, Sweet-pea?’

Izzy nodded. ‘I think she’ll feel much better after a good sleep. She always says that to me, so it must be true.’

‘Exactly,’ Adam said. ‘So I think we’ll ask Aunty Mia if you could maybe sleep over at her house tonight.’ He looked at Mia and Johnny.

‘Absolutely,’ Johnny said immediately. ‘I need someone to help me flip pancakes, and Sarah always says you’re a star in the kitchen.’

Izzy giggled. ‘I am, and Iloveflipping pancakes. Although I love eating them even more.’

‘Then you’re my kind of assistant chef,’ Johnny said. ‘We’ll make a big stack of them and gobble them all up.’

‘Yum!’ Izzy said, her eyes shining.

‘Thank you,’ Adam said, to Johnny.

‘Don’t worry about Izzy for a second,’ Johnny said. ‘We’ve got your back.’

‘I’ll stay a while, if you don’t mind, Adam,’ Charlie said. ‘I don’t want to leave.’

Adam nodded. ‘Of course, Charlie.’

Mia tried to think practically. She needed to go into organizational mode now. It would help her get through this.

‘How about I go to the house and get some things for Izzy?’ she said. ‘I can collect some stuff for you as well, Adam, if you’re going to stay the night.’

‘That would be great, Mia, thanks so much. And I’ll call immediately if there’s any change or news.’

The door opened again and a tall woman with tightly cropped grey hair strode in. She was dressed in a nurse’s green scrubs and smiled warmly at them. ‘The Brown family,’ she said. ‘You must be Adam.’ She extended her hand to him. ‘I’m Angela Fanagan, and I’ll be your liaison between all the medical teams and your good selves.’

‘Thank you.’ Adam shook her hand. ‘We’re still shell-shocked.’

‘Of course you are,’ Angela said. ‘This has been a terrible shock for you all. The medical team are working hard to discover exactly what we’re dealing with and I’ll keep you updated throughout. Now, you’d better introduce me, Adam, so I know whoI’m dealing with.’

Adam made the introductions.

‘I’m here for any of you to ask questions at any time,’ Angela said, ‘but my key point of contact is Adam, as Sarah’s next-of-kin. I’ll give updates directly to him, and he can ask to receive them in private or not.’

‘We’re all in this together,’ Adam said, gesturing at thefamily. ‘Whatever you have to say to me, you can say to anyone here.’

‘That’s great,’ Angela said. ‘A family who can support each other is a huge comfort to everyone during a stressful time. And now this,’ she said, hunkering down in front of Izzy, ‘must be the wonderful Izzy I keep hearing about.’

‘That’s me!’ Izzy said, making them all laugh.

‘Well, I’m delighted to make your acquaintance,’ Angela said. ‘And do you understand what’s happening with Mummy?’