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‘Sorry Mum. Sorry Dr Tom.’

‘That’s all right. I think I agree.’ He winked at her, making her giggle. ‘I’ll tell you what.’ The doctor rummaged in his desk and produced a sketch pad and packet of colouring pencils. ‘Since we repainted in here, I think my walls are looking a bit boring. Would you like to draw me a picture to brighten it up a bit, while I talk to your mum about boring things.’

‘About me?’

‘Maybe a little bit, but only the boring stuff, I promise.’

‘OK. Do you like badgers?’

‘I do. Very much.’

‘I’ll make you a badger then. A rainbow one.’

‘A rainbow badger?’ He chuckled. ‘That is something I’d very much like to see.’

He turned to Evelyn, and gave her a warm smile. ‘Linda’s already filled me in on the basics, but I’ll need the names of Summer’s doctors to get her notes.’

Evelyn produced a large folder. ‘These are copies of her treatment plans, and all the correspondence we’ve received, and a graph tracking her HVA and VMA blood levels – which have been quite reliable measures throughout. Her GP’s, consultant’s and cancer nurse’s contact details are all in there too.’

‘Thank you.’ He shuffled through the folder quickly. ‘I’ll make copies of these and drop them back to you.’

‘It’s OK. I’ve more at home.’

‘From the top then. Neuroblastoma, diagnosed following presentation with ongoing shoulder pain, tiredness, anaemia and sustained, elevated ESR.’ He flicked through a few more pages. ‘At five years old?’ He looked at her over the top of his glasses, eyebrows raised.

‘I know. It’s quite rare at that age.’

‘I kept getting sick and tired,’ Summer piped up from the corner where she was drawing. ‘Mum kept taking me to the doctor and nagging them until they listened. She saved my life.’

‘Where did you hear that?’ Evelyn looked at her in shock. She thought they’d protected Summer from knowing how bad things might have been.

‘Lizzie told me.’

‘Her cancer nurse,’ Evelyn explained to Dr Tom. ‘Why did she tell you that?’

‘Because I asked her if I was going to die, like one of the littler kids did. She said no, because you nagged the doctors until they listened, like you nag me to take my shoes off at home, and because of your nagging the doctors found my tumour in time and could blast it away.’

‘Your cancer nurse wasn’t wrong,’ Dr Tom agreed. ‘So, let’s go through the rest of these papers.’

Chapter Three

Summer and Tilly ran ahead, happy in the unexpected sunshine, even though it meant there were limited puddles for the pair of them to jump and splash in. Evelyn laughed at their antics as she stripped off her thick gloves and loosened her scarf. The sun shone brightly in the blue sky, making it warmer than she’d expected, and spring was already starting to fill the air.

She smiled as she watched her two girls bouncing along happily – one a rescue from a rehoming centre, and one rescued from an illness that stole the lives of far too many children – and said a silent thank you to whoever was watching over her. They’d only been in Broclington for a little over a month, but the differences in Summer were incredible.

She paused, and turned her head up to the sky, enjoying the warmth of the sun. All through the woods, for all that it was only February, there were the first, early daffodils, crocuses and buds and leaves that were heralding spring, and the world was coming back to life, bright, beautiful and full of promise of a wonderful year ahead.

She liked the metaphor for her own life as well. Sometimes it seemed only yesterday that she sat in a hospital isolation ward, wearing a mask, gown and gloves while she held Summer’s hand as “Santa” waved to her through a window. And other times, like now when Summer was racing around happily playing with Tilly, it seemed as if it belonged to another lifetime. One she was only too happy to leave behind.

Again, she worried about the lack of relationship that Summer had with her father, but tried to put it out of her mind and focus on enjoying the day and living in the moment. That had been one of the things all the other parents, and doctors and nurses had always told her – focus on the moment and try to live in whatever joy there was. And they’d been right.

Tilly had stuck her nose in another hole, investigating something, and Evelyn ran up to her and thwacked her tail gently. She laughed when Tilly spun around and play-growled at her, before racing off, yipping at her pack to follow her.

‘Come on,’ Evelyn called to Summer. ‘Race you!’

They ran and chased after each other, laughing until they were out of breath and rosy-cheeked with joy. Evelyn grabbed Summer around the waist and swung her in the air, making her giggle and squeal with delight.

‘So, are you sure you’re ready to go back to school next term?’