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‘Yes.’ As much as he wanted to tell Evelyn before anyone else, he knew his dad would only accept his total, unfiltered honesty at this point.

‘OK. What is it you want to know?’

‘I’ve been looking at some trials. Alternative treatments that I think might help Summer.’

‘How much do you know about her case?’

‘Pretty much everything. Or at least everything that’s on paper. I’ve read her records. More than once,’ Jake admitted.

‘I thought Evelyn and you weren’t seeing each other any more.’

‘She wants to concentrate on Summer, and doesn’t want to put me through what the next months might bring.’

‘Jake.’ He rested his hand over his son’s. ‘If you’ve really read all the records, you know there’s no might or maybe about this.’

‘I’ve been doing some research too.’ Jake ignored the comment and pulled a sheath of papers and his laptop out of his bag. ‘There are some trials that I think look really promising.’

‘I did put feelers out when I first heard the prognosis. I’m happy to take a look Jake, but I’ll be amazed if you’ve found something I, and Mr Khan, missed.’

‘I know this is your field, Dad. And I appreciate you looking at these. I’m just a vet. I’ve probably misunderstood something, but I have to know for sure.’

‘You’re a good medic, son. I’ve no doubt you can understand these documents as well as me. The only difference between us is your patients’ bites really are worse than their barks.’ He rested his hand briefly on Jake’s shoulders. ‘Show me your top contenders.’

Jake shuffled through the papers. ‘These are the ones that I think are most promising.’

He waited, trying to be patient, while his dad flicked through the papers, hmm-ing and aha-ing every so often. Every time he made a noise, or nodded, or scribbled a note, Jake wanted to snatch the papers back to see what it was that he was interested in. And every time his dad frowned, or shook his head, his heart fell a little further. When he discarded the trial Jake had pinned the most of his hopes on, he felt like crying.

‘Jake, can you come and help me in the kitchen please?’

‘Mum, can it wait? We’re a bit busy.’

‘No love, it can’t. Shift please.’

He grumbled as he left the dining table and the cosiness of the living room to see what it was she wanted, and was surprised to see her calmly sitting at the kitchen table, apparently not needing any help at all.

‘What’s up, Mum?’

‘Your blood pressure, to look at you.’ She indicated the stool opposite her. ‘I know you’re desperate to find an answer, but you need to prepare yourself to accept that there probably isn’t one.’

‘You think I don’t know that?’

‘I’m worried you might have convinced yourself otherwise. But I do know that you peering over your father’s shoulder, huffing and puffing and flinching every other second is only going to make things worse.’ She held her hand out to Jake, and pulled him towards her. ‘Your dad’s going to do his best. Give him time to read and concentrate.’

‘I know.’ Jake struggled to keep his jaw from clenching.

‘Do you really think you might have found something?’

‘Maybe. I hope so.’

‘I do too.’ Julie smiled reassuringly. ‘I really do. And you’re a good medic, Jake. If you think you’ve found something, I’m sure you’re right.’

‘Thanks Mum. I really needed to hear that.’

‘Anytime, love. Anytime. Shall we actually put the kettle on now?’

After more than an hour, Tom strode into the kitchen and dropped Jake’s papers on the breakfast bar. He pushed his glasses onto the top of his head and rubbed his nose tiredly. ‘Any chance of another cuppa, darling?’

‘Of course.’ She stood to put the kettle on.