January 16th 2011 – To the Airport

A silver Mercedes people carrier had appeared at the door to Chloe’s dad’s house at six the next morning. Chauffeur driven no less. It was pitch dark and freezing cold, as Chloe and Tom loaded the boot up. They just had two suitcases. There was no need to take Eve’s buggy. She needed a special chair by now, with padding to keep her comfortable. The airport had assured them they would have something suitable waiting. As they set off for Manchester, the sick toddler was perched on her mother’s knee dozing fitfully.

Chloe thought back over the last few hours. It just didn’t seem possible that this could be happening to them. Tom had kept most of his dealings with Charles private. Chloe supposed that in reality, she had no time to spare for detective stories with her baby girl being so sick. But now help had appeared from nowhere. For some strange reason, Chloe remembered her old English teacher. This turn of events was even more remarkable than some ancient Greek resolving the plot of a classic play.

She was desperate not to get her hopes too high. But surely sometimes good things happened to people. Even miracles. She had never had any religious beliefs. Ever since her early childhood, Chloe couldn’t believe any God she wanted a part of, would allow little girls’ mothers to die. But she resolved to become the most devout supplicant to any deity who could save her daughter.