95

David came downstairs at ten to five.

Grace heard him, stopped rocking before the door opened.

‘You should be sleeping,’ she told him.

Knowing suddenly, despite that, that he was one person to whom she could bear to speak.

‘I slept,’ he said.

‘I don’t suppose,’ Grace said, ‘you’d consider going home to bed.’

‘You don’t suppose right,’ he said.

She patted the couch. ‘Join me?’

‘I may be infectious,’ David said.

A thousand instant thoughts flew like sharp-billed birds through Grace’s mind – all coming down to one that pecked right into her heart. The very worst thought. That she might never again have to worry about Joshua catching the flu or any other illness.

‘Sit with me,’ she said. ‘Please.’

Saul appeared in the doorway.

‘You look worse than I do, son,’ his father told him.

‘Mind if I join you guys?’ Saul asked.

A second person she didn’t mind.

‘Come,’ Grace said.

The three of them sat in a line on the couch, not speaking much, not huddling together, just their arms touching lightly.

Small comfort, for a very little while.