With a grunt of annoyance, Pamela pushed back the duvet, found her slippers and put on her dressing gown. For the last quarter of an hour she’d been lying in bed, wondering, yet again, whether she was doing the right thing. What if she was making a huge mistake? How was she going to cope with all that needed doing? After all, when her husband had been alive, he had always insisted on sorting out the paperwork. What if she forgot something? Finally, she admitted to herself she was not likely to fall back asleep, and the best thing to do would be to get up and make herself a hot drink. Then, she could read a bit more of her novel while she drank it and hopefully, after that, she would be in a position to go to sleep again.

Quietly, not wishing to disturb anyone in her son-in-law’s house, she made her way downstairs and into the kitchen.

Adam woke with the pain in his leg. He turned over, which usually helped to ease the worst of the ache, but, as sometimes happened, his mind started to suggest that there was more than the usual pain that night, which might mean a further operation. And if that was the case, how would Wes cope, especially as he had exams coming up, what effect would it all have on Lucas’ mental state, and how much would he be able to help Pamela, as he had promised he would. Perhaps he could just ignore it, not that that had worked last time.

Lucas was running and falling, picking himself up and running again, trying to evade his pursuers. As he ran, the corridors grew wetter, so that he started to splash through puddles and quickly found himself ankle deep and then knee deep in water. He struggled on as best he could, waving his arms to try to propel himself faster, but the water grew deeper, and, as he reached forward to grab some more air, he woke himself up. He was half sitting, breathing rapidly, and conscious the man beside him was also awake.

He turned to look at Adam. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t,” Adam replied, “I may have disturbed you though, I’ve been moving around.”

“Leg hurting?”

“Yes.”

“And have you taken any painkillers?” There was no reply to the question, so Lucas got out of bed, walked round, found the bottle of painkillers and held two out to Adam, who reluctantly took them. “Considering how far we walked yesterday afternoon, I’m not surprised your leg is hurting. Not to mention going up and down all those steps. I suggest you have a lie in tomorrow and you’ll feel much better. I’m going to make a hot drink, do you want one?”

“Yes, please. And I’m sorry, you must think I’m an idiot.”

“Stubborn and human, yes, but an idiot, no.”

Lucas pulled on a baggy hoodie over his pyjamas and quietly made his way downstairs. Noticing the light in the kitchen was on, he paused for a moment and listened. He could hear someone moving around, but quietly, so it wasn’t Wes. He therefore allowed his footsteps to make slightly more noise as he approached the kitchen so as not to alarm Pamela.

She looked up as he came in. “Couldn’t sleep either?” she asked. “I hope I didn’t disturb you."

"You didn’t,” Lucas replied. “I hadn’t realised you were down here until I saw the light. You’re not worried about the plans for Monday are you?”

She shook her head. “No, it wasn’t that. More the usual can I cope, have I made the right decision, sort of thing. Do you want some hot chocolate?”

“Yes, please. Could you make two mugs; Adam’s awake as well.”

“Is his leg hurting? He looked drawn when you got home.”

“Yes, so I said I’d get us a drink.” Pamela looked at him, as if she only half believed this statement, so he admitted, “And I’d had one of my recurrent nightmares. We’re a right trio!”

“Well, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who suffers from night fears. I don’t feel so isolated.”

“I suppose that’s a plus.”

“It is. Now, I’m sure you’ll both benefit from resting tomorrow morning, so I won’t expect to see you before I go to church. I’ll let Wes know not to disturb you, although I can’t promise you won’t hear him moving around.”

“I think I’d be more worried if I couldn’t hear him! And thank you, I do appreciate it.”

Lucas waited while Pamela went upstairs, and then picked up the two hot chocolates and half a packet of biscuits before going back to bed himself.