Sarah's Gift

Emily nodded, and together they went out, Emily still wriggling one foot into a shoe, to find Matt waiting, pacing the foyer. They all but ran to the car, and once at the hospital he told Sarah to entertain Emily while he checked Darren.

She took the little girl into the staffroom and got her a glass of squash, then hunted around to see if there was anything to eat.

Oh, look, a box of chocolates. They must be from a patient. Here, have one.’

She had three in the end before Matt appeared with a smile in the doorway.

‘OK?’

‘Yes, he’s fine, he’s gone home with a head injuries card just in case, but I’m sure he’ll be fine.’

He helped himself to a chocolate, then looked at the other two. ‘Right, how would you like to go and play with Evie and Gus while I take Sarah for a coffee?’

‘OK. I’ve got no underwear on—I forgot.’ She wrinkled her little nose, and he laughed and hugged her head against his side.

‘I’m sure Evie will have some she can lend you, just this once. Come on.’

‘I don’t really need a coffee,’ Sarah told him, wondering how long it would be before she could go home, crawl into a corner and forget about the last few hours. It had all been too much, and she really didn’t feel up to making small talk or, worse still, rehashing the events.

She just wanted to forget.

Matt, though, didn’t seem to be about to let her. ‘I need one,’ he told her, ‘and I could use some company.’