It had been a terrible night. Danny had been up several times being sick and staggering out to the lavatory. He was sleeping more peacefully for the moment, completely worn out, his face drawn and sallow. Rachel felt she had barely slept at all. Melanie’s serious little face looked over the bedclothes at her. Evie! She had forgotten all about that. Anger drove her up and out of bed. ‘Evie just had to stop over with us,’ she told Melly, not wanting to start a long discussion about why and how. ‘I need to go and see her mom.’ ‘She’s asleep,’ Melly said. ‘And Tommy’s awake.’ ‘She’ll be all right, let her sleep,’ Rachel said. ‘You leave them both and get ready for school.’ I wonder if Irene will even notice she’s gone? Rachel thought, pulling her dress over her head. She felt frayed with exhaustion and nerves. Was Danny going to be all right – should she get the doctor? Could he die of it? All the time as she got Tommy up and fed him, the worry jangled inside her, making her jump at the slightest thing.
