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‘Hoets us to the side of Enid’s bed and shuffles frohter, Olivia Re eyes onat me when she has me in view ‘Oh yes I remember’

I smile as both ladies holda little unco stares ‘It was nice to meet you, Enid’

‘You take care, duck’ She pulls her hand frorasps at air beforefor I restmy head cock in question ‘He’ll be perfect for you’

‘Who will?’ I ask on a nervous laugh, flicking s and turns back towards Enid, who’s drawing a laboured breath of air, ready to enlighten us, but she says noback into a deep sleep

I biteEnid that he’s already perfect forclaiswith a fond s immediate sadness within me ‘She’s been here for over aso alone?’

‘No,’ I ad such loneliness I may have cut myself off from the world, but I was never lonely Never alone Miller was, though

‘Surround yourself with people who love you,’ Nan says to herself, yet the intention for h her reason for such a stateesturing h and start a slow, easy walk to the exit ‘Are you feeling OK?’ I ask, just as Miller rounds the corner, his luscious lips displaying a hint of a sht the stressed eyes on his is ‘All suited and booted’

Miller relievesand takes up position on the other side of her, offering his arm, too, which she takes on a happy s us both closer to her with a surprisingly fir of her arms ‘Toodle-oo!’ she shouts at the nurse’s station as we pass ‘Farewell!’

‘Goodbye, Mrs Taylor!’ They all laugh as we escort y to the team of medical staff who’ve endured days of her sass I’ the one on the constant receiving end of that Taylor sass

It takes us a while, but we eventually make it out of the hospital, Miller and I both happy to a, while Nan has to be constantly held back fro from the place she’s seen as a prison for the duration of her stay I haven’t looked at Miller once in the twenty h I’ve felt his eyes directed at ing ht process If Nan wasn’t between us, I’d tell hiht process is and save him the trouble It’s simple I don’t care and I don’t want to know Whatever he and William may have spoken about, whatever plans they’ve made, I don’t want to know The fact that Miller is probably fully ar ht be I have, however, silently concluded that William knew Gracie Taylor was here and he chose not to tell ry with hirateful

‘Well, would you look at Mr Swanky Pants!’ Nan laughs when Miller opens the back door of his Merc for her and swoops his ar Nan’s delusional conclusion that he’s always such a gent and playing on it But I’ll let it pass, if only to keep that incredible shting to preventhis aasps, getting comfy on the backseat ‘I feel like royalty!’

‘You are, Mrs Taylor,’ Miller replies as he shuts the door, hiding the satisfied blush that’s just crept onto her cheeks Now that Nan’s out of the way, it’s just htful look on his face Where’s all the ione? I love and hate all of these facial expressions ‘William would like to speak to you,’ he whispers, quite wisely, too, given Nan’s a mere foot away, albeit behind a closed door

I’ that I probably ht now I have one priority’

‘I concur,’ Miller agrees without delay, surprisingblue eyes haul me into their safety and comfort, make my arms twitch at ive up fighting to keep theratitude ‘I love you’

‘We established that long ago, sweet girl,’ he whispers, pulling back to get my face in view ‘Let round, our tongues falling into a beautifully delicate pace of swirling, each of us nipping at each other’s lips e pull back, tiain I’suntil a sharp rapping jolts me back to the here and now and we both pull apart Miller huffs a quiet, disbelieving shot of laughter as we turn towards theof his car I can’t see Nan’s face – the blacked out s are preventing it, but if I could, I know she’d be pushed up against the glass, grinning