Mandy sat beside Jack’s bed, a sensation of mixed emotions. She was angry, he had deliberately gone into a dangerous situation and made her worry; think he was dead. This powerful emotion of love towards him, how did that happen? How could this be, when all of her sensibilities said run a mile, but in her mind’s eye she saw the truly good things about Jack that outweighed the fact he was a fat and ugly juvenile. Christ, she thought, even Spotty is more mature than him.
‘Mum.’
Mandy turned, shocked from her thoughts by a familiar voice, her daughter Elizabeth at the end of the bed. Mandy stood and they hugged, ‘Liz, I didn’t expect to see you,’ leaning her head back, but maintaining the embrace.
‘I thought you might need me?’
‘Darling, thank you, I do need you.’
‘How is he?’
‘Well, if
