Gwen checked the clock; she had about ten minutes before she had to get ready to leave to see her mother. She saw John had noticed her looking at the time and said by way of explanation, "I’ll need to make a move soon." "I’d like to come to the hospital with you if I may," replied John. "Really, why?" asked Gwen, too shocked to put her query more politely. "To meet your Mother. Plus I’m sure she’d be grateful to have another visitor as she’s been stuck with you all the time." "Oh, well…" Gwen tried frantically to think of an excuse as to why John couldn’t come, ideally one that didn’t hurt his feelings too much, but found she was all out of ideas. John obviously sensed Gwen’s anxiety and said "If she says she’d rather I went I’ll just go and amuse myself in the gift shop until you’re ready to leave." Gwen sighed, and once again felt like he’d outwitted her. She wished she knew how he managed it. As John finished up the paragraph he’d been tidying, he wondered what had possessed him to ask to accompany Gwen.
