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‘I don’t want any specifics, exactly, more just to check a few things.’

‘OK.’

‘Eight-year-old girl. She’s had neuroblastoma.’

‘Wow, that’s rare in an eight-year-old.’

‘So I’ve been told,’ Jake replied grimly. ‘She finished the latest round of chemo a few months ago. She had a bad reaction on the last cycle, but apparently it worked and she’s cancer free.’

‘That’s good then. So what is it you want to know?’

‘Are there any restrictions on the things she can do? Any special considerations or anything?’

‘How do you mean?’

‘Is there anything she can’t do?’

‘Like activities and stuff?’ He waited for Jake’s nod. ‘Is she back at school?’

‘Yeah.’

‘In that case, not really. Her doctors – and Dad – must be happy that she’s recovered enough that she’s not immune-compromised any more. She might get tired more easily than her peers, and might be a little more prone to motion-induced nausea. Some patients get changes to their eating habits, neuropathy – especially in the fingers and toes – and obviously there’s the hair loss. She might have increased sensitivity to cold and extreme heat. But no, I wouldn’t say there’s anything she really can’t do, so long as she feels well enough. If she were my patient, I’d probably advise her parents to let her get back to normal as soon as she can, and just try to make sure she gets plenty of rest and a good diet.’

‘OK. Pretty much what I thought then.’

‘Jake? What’s this about?’

‘The woman you said I was getting silly looks over? She’s got a little girl, and she’s been sick.’

‘Wow bro, that’s really complicated. Are you sure you want to get involved with a woman who has already got a kid, and one who’s been so ill at that?’ He shrugged self-consciously. ‘I don’t mean to sound negative, but it’s a big thing you’re talking about, and I’ve got to ask.’

‘It’s all right, I get it. I’d probably ask the same if it were you. We’re good.’

‘So, are you sure?’

‘If I’m totally honest, no. It’s crazy, we’ve not even been out on a proper date, but I can’t stop thinking about her. I’m already going out of my way to make her smile – to make both of them smile. I find myself thinking about them all the time. Even coming in here today, for a few seconds I was wondering how they’d fit in. Is it ideal? No. But Cal’—he took a deep breath before trying to put into words the thoughts that had been driving him crazy for weeks—‘I think I really like her. Both of them. They’ve been stuck in my mind since I met them. I don’t ever remember reacting to someone like this.’

Callum laughed and wrapped his arm around Jake’s shoulders. ‘You’ve got it bad, bro.’

‘I think you might be right.’

‘Sorry, what was that? Did my ears deceive me? Did you, my younger brother, just admit I was right about something?’

‘I said might, you giant pain in the arse.’

‘Close enough.’ He shifted his arm, dragging Jake down into a headlock and ruffled his hair.

‘Gerroff!’ Jake elbowed him non-too gently to make him let go.

‘Awww.’ Callum let him wriggle out and patted his cheeks patronisingly. ‘Jakey-wakey has got himself a girlfriend.’

Jake laughed, refusing to let his brother’s antics wind him up. ‘You know what Callum? I really do hope you’re right.’

Evelyn sat in the waiting room, and glanced at the clock again: thirty minutes later than when their appointment should have been over by, and they were still waiting. She peered outside at Tilly, who was clearly bored and was stretched out in the surgery vestibule, apparently asleep.

‘I’m bored.’ Summer flopped dramatically over Evelyn’s lap. ‘So bored I might die of boredom. Will it be my turn soon?’

‘I hope so.’ Evelyn looked at the clock again, and then wondered why. It wasn’t like she really had anywhere to go, or anything special to do. She sighed. She was bored too, and not just with waiting for an overrunning appointment. She was incredibly grateful, after so many years of worry, to have the opportunity to actually be bored, but she wasn’t very good at it. And what should have been an appointment of no more than a couple of minutes to draw blood had turned into a test of patience for both of them. She glanced at Tilly again: for all three of them.