Pat’s parents were in their eighties. They’d been in their thirties when he was born and hadn’t gifted him any siblings. Being an only child had had its upside when he was younger, but now it meant he was on his own whenever life presented his parents with a challenge.
‘Hello, Mum.’
‘Your father’s driven the car into the back of the garage.’
This could be serious, thought Pat, after he’d gotten over the shock of the directness of her statement, without any words of greeting or warning. ‘Is he hurt?’
‘I don’t know. He won’t answer me.’
God, I hope he hasn’t killed himself, thought Pat. That would really set the cat among the pigeons; there was no way his mother could take care of herself without assistance. ‘Where are you, Mum?’
‘We’re trapped in the bloody car waiting for the ambulan
