Page 53 of Lessons in Life

‘I’m so sorry, Matt.’

‘She back with Dean?’

‘No, no. NO! Well, I hope not anyway. If she was, she’d be too embarrassed to tell me. Having said that, I was no positive role model in the way I behaved with Jayden over the years. Genes will out: learned behaviour, isn’t that what they say?’

‘OK, so if you’re not here to matchmake, why are you here? You’re not feeling ill, are you? Medication all right? Not having any problems with that? I have to say, Lisa, you’re looking fabulous.’

‘Matt, I’ve not felt as well as this since I was in my early thirties. In fact, I’ve just been singing!’

‘Singing?’

‘Joined a choir. Obviously, it’s Jayden who has the fabulous voice but, I was only telling someone the other day, I used to work with him on stage if one of the backing singers had upped and left. Which they often did. Anyway, I’ve walked into the village hall by myself, and had a wonderful time singing. Musical theatre stuff. Loved it.’ Lisa was animated, proud that she’d found the confidence to make the initial move and gone for a taster session. ‘So, yes, I’m feeling great.’

‘Well, that’s a relief.’ Matt smiled. ‘OK? What, then?’

‘You know we’ve discussed in the past about this bloody awful condition being hereditary?’

‘Hmm?’ Matt leaned forward at his desk.

‘You’ve always said it can be.’

‘Yep.’ Matt stared. ‘Jess isn’t ill, is she?’

‘No. It’s Sorrel.’

‘Sorrel?’

‘She’s been feeling terribly anxious, had stomach pains, nausea and vomiting. Some tingling, she says.’

‘Remind me again, how old is she?’

‘Fifteen. Well, sixteen next month. And she was so excited about getting the audition for the Susan Yates Theatre School. You know?’

‘I do.’ Matt smiled. ‘Fifteen is very, very young to start with porphyria.’

‘Suddenly, instead of being excited and spending time with Robyn being put through her paces, she’s throwing up, tired and tearful. Very tearful. Very anxious.’

‘OK, let’s hope it’s not porphyria. I doubt it is. Sounds more like nerves and panic at what’s in store for her in London. You know, she’s probably desperate to be accepted at the school, but sheisonly fifteen. Leaving home and everything.’ Matt sat back, reaching for a notepad. ‘We need to run some tests. Can you get her in?’

‘She says she doesn’t want to know if she’s carrying the gene.’

‘Well, if she is starting with it, the sooner we begin tests and treatment, the better.’ He stopped writing. ‘Lisa, we need to know ifyouinherited the condition.’

‘But, you’re aware, Matt, I’ve no idea who my birth parents were.’

‘Of course. It was one of the first things I asked you, if you remember?’

‘Vaguely. When I was brought in, back in September, the last thing I was capable of doing was discussing my family tree.’

‘I think we need to find out. For Sorrel’s, Robyn’s and Jess’s sake. And Lola’s, of course.’

‘The girls have always turned a blind eye. Frightened, I suppose. You know, Jess only told me the other day that Dean had always said ifsheended up with it, he’d be off.’

Matt raised an eye at that, but said nothing.

‘I don’t know how I’m going to persuade the girls…’

‘You need to get Sorrel to come and see me. Not only for her sake, but here at the hospital we’re starting databanks, amassing what little we know about the condition.’

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