Page 48 of Seven Letters

Johnny shook his head. ‘No. They’re being really careful in what they say, which makes me worry. Mia stayed in the hospital last night. She was too afraid to leave. She’s working on tracking someone down. Apparently, the mother of that new boy in your class, Pam Neelan, is a neurologist. She was working in some big trauma unit in the US until recently, so Mia’s asked her to have a look at Sarah’s medical notes. I think she’s right, we need as many opinions as we can get.’

‘Oh, yeah, he said something about his mum being a doctor. Maybe she’ll figure out how to make Sarah better.’

‘We’re having a meeting with the doctors this morning. Hopefully we’ll get some good news then.’

Riley bit her thumbnail. ‘Do you think she’ll wake up?’

Johnny sighed. ‘I don’t know, love, but I’m worried. We’ll have to wait and see what they say, after all the tests they’ve been doing. All we can do is hope and try to be optimistic.’

Glass half full, Riley thought. Her dad was a glass-half-full person and her mum was a glass-half-empty person. That was why they worked. That was why she and Zach worked, too – correction, used to work.

‘Sarah’s the best,’ Riley said. ‘She’s like Mum, but in a calmer, nicer, more relaxed, cooler, more fun way.’

‘Ah, now,’ Johnny said, swatting her arm gently, ‘that’s a bit harsh. Mia is a wonderful woman.’

‘She’s always on my case, Dad. I can’t do anything right.’

‘She’s had a lot on her plate lately, Riley. I want you to be nice to her. Especially now. Sarah is her sister, her only sibling, and she adores her. Remember that. Mia is utterly devastated, and you and I have to support her. She’ll be home soon to have a quick shower and then she’s heading back to the hospital. Whatever she says or does, you are to bite your tongue and just say, “Yes, Mum,” and “Can I do anything for you, Mum?” OK?’

‘I promise I will.’

‘Good.’ Johnny kissed her head. ‘Now up you get.’

When Riley shuffled into the kitchen twenty minutes later, Mia was standing at the counter, dressed in jeans and a jumper with wet hair dripping down her back. She looked wrecked.

‘Hi, Riley,’ she said. She put down her coffee, came over and threw her arms around her daughter.

Riley froze. They weren’t huggy people. It felt weird and uncomfortable. She raised her arms and put them round her mother.

Mia pulled back. ‘How are you, pet? You’ve been a bit abandoned in the midst of all this.’

‘I’m fine. How are you?’

Mia smiled sadly. ‘It’s really hard, but I’m hanging in there.’

‘So, uhm, how is she?’ Riley whispered, so Izzy, who was eating sausages and telling Johnny about her Communion dress, wouldn’t hear.

‘The same. No change. I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re meeting the medical team this morning. It’sjust so …’ Mia lowered her head and quickly wiped a tear from her cheek.

Oh, Jesus. Riley didn’t know what to do. Her mother never cried, like never, ever, ever. She was so strong and tough, Riley often wondered if she felt real emotions. She wanted to put her hand up and lay it on her mother’s shoulder or something, but she felt too awkward. She tried to think of something positive to say. Glass half full, she told herself. ‘It’ll be OK, Mum, I mean, she could end up like that guy Stephen Hawking, and he had a good life. The wheelchair and having to speak with his eyebrows wasn’t great, but you know, he did loads and – and – Sorry, that’s a shit example, but –’

Mia looked as if she’d been slapped. She rushed out of the room, her hand over her mouth.

‘Nice one, Riley,’ Johnny hissed.

Riley’s eyes filled with tears. What was wrong with her? She should have just kept her big mouth shut. Damn it, she’d upset her mother now and that was the last thing she’d wanted to do. Riley felt sick.

She picked at a slice of toast, then went upstairs to find her mother. She heard her voice and peered around her parents’ bedroom door. Mia was brushing Izzy’s hair.

‘Mummy does two plaits on the side and then she clips them and then she ties them into a ponytail at the back. It looks so pretty.’

‘I’m sorry, Izzy, your mum was always better at hair than me. I’ll try, though.’

‘I don’t mind having just a regular ponytail today.’

‘Thanks, sweetie.’ Mia hugged her from behind. ‘You are such a gorgeous girl, do you know that, Izzy? Your mum is so proud of you.’

‘She’ll wake up soon,’ Izzy said. ‘And I’m going to tell her all about my sleepovers with Riley.’

---