‘Your mother hoped you were coming earlier too,’ Stephen Mayhew added. He looked carefully at his son, then he sighed deeply.
‘I’m sorry — I’m so sorry,’ Dexter said unhappily. ‘How is she, Dad.”
'You need to ask her that yourself,’ Mr Mayhew said. ‘Go up to her room now. I’ll make us some lunch.’
Dexter walked slowly up the stairs, carrying Emma’s present. He opened the door of his mother’s bedroom and went nervously inside. Alison Mayhew was sitting up in her bed. She was very thin and she looked very tired and ill. But she smiled when she saw her son.
‘A present! What have you brought me ?' she asked.
‘The present is from Emma,’ Dexter said. ‘Let’s open it.’