‘I think I will, if you don’t mind helping Judith get ready, Lizzie.’
‘Of course not. You must be shaken up about Alison.’
‘I am a bit.’ George gives Mum a hug goodnight. As they wrap their arms around each other I think of Nick. I miss him. And the kids.
I don’t feel easy leaving Mum down here by herself. Maybe I’m imagining it all, as everyone thinks, but I want to make sure my mum is safe. ‘I’ll sleep on the sofa in the conservatory for tonight,’ I say.
George looks at me in concern. ‘You won’t be very comfortable there, Lizzie. Why don’t you take Alison’s bed in your old room?’
‘I prefer to be down here in case Mum needs me. I’ll be fine, don’t worry,’ I tell him.
I fetch Alison’s light duvet and pillow and put them on the sofa. I’m glad that Nick and Alison took the wicker one outside, this one is much more comfortable.
‘Shall we have another drink before we turn in?’ I ask Mum when George has gone up to bed. ‘Do you fancy hot chocolate?’
‘That would be lovely, I’ll go to the bathroom and get ready for bed. Do you mind bringing it in to my room?’ she asks.
‘Of course not.’
I warm some milk up on the hob, make two mugs of hot chocolate, put some marshmallows in a bowl and take them in to Mum’s room.
We have our drink together then Mum settles down to sleep. I put a glass of water within her reach in case she wakes in the night and is thirsty. I’ve poured one for myself too. I take it into the conservatory and lie down on the sofa in there. I think of my comfy bed back home, and Nick. I miss snuggling up to him.
As if he can sense my thoughts, he phones me. ‘Hello, love, how are you doing? Is everything okay at your mum’s?’
I’m so happy to hear from him. ‘Everything’s okay. Mum’s asleep now. I’m glad I came, George looks shattered. I think Alison’s accident has really shaken him up.’
‘It’s a lot for him, especially not long after Judith’s fall. It’s a lot for you all.’
It is. ‘How are the kids?’ I ask.
‘Fast asleep. Everything is fine here, don’t worry about us.’ He pauses. ‘I love you, Lizzie. If you need me call. Anytime. Even in the middle of the night. Promise?’
‘I promise. I love you too.’
When our phone call has ended, I curl up on the sofa and wrap the blanket around me, thinking how much I miss Nick and the kids. I wish I could go home, that we were all together again, but I can’t until it’s safe. And right now, I don’t feel that it is. Exhausted, I snuggle down into the pillow and close my eyes.
I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep but something wakes me. Something that makes my eyes snap open and my ears prick, on full alert. I sit up and reach for the light, switching it on.What is it?
I can smell something. Smoke! I can smell smoke. I jump off the sofa in panic.
Oh my God, something is on fire!
MONDAY
64
LIZZIE
Mum! I’ve got to get to Mum. The back room is right next to the kitchen, it won’t take long for the smoke to get in there and she’s so weak it will overcome her in no time.
I run over to the door. I can hardly see through the glass because of the smoke. I need something over my mouth. I reach for the vest top I wore yesterday that I draped over the arm of the sofa, pour the remaining water from the glass I filled last night onto it and tie it around my mouth then open the door into the back room. I can barely make out Mum but I hear her coughing and make my way in that direction.
‘Lizzie…’ She coughs again ‘What’s happened?’
‘There’s a fire, we’ve got to get out!’ I need to wake George too, if he isn’t already awake, and call the fire brigade but in my rush to save Mum I left my phone in the conservatory. I can’t shout him, my mouth is covered with the wet vest top, I’ll get Mum out then I’ll call him.
‘Lean on me,’ I say as Mum tries to get out of bed. There isn’t time to put her boot on or grab her walker, I’m going to have to support her. And she needs something around her mouth to protect her from the smoke. I whip the pillowcase off while Mum struggles to sit on the end of the bed, use her glass of water towet it and tie it around her mouth. It’s not ideal but it’s better than nothing.
