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“Gran’s getting older, Harper, and she misses your grandad still. She gets tired easily, and doing the shopping and making meals feels like a lot of effort for her right now.” Mum rubbed her eyes, looking tired. “So I’ve been getting the shopping for her and dropping it off after work, but it’s nice for her to eat with us sometimes. It means she doesn’t have to cook, and she gets to see you and me and Ava. It cheers her up.”

Harper eyed Mum anxiously. That all made sense, but… “There’s nothing really wrong with Gran?” she asked. She could hear her voice sounding small and scared.

“No, I don’t think so. We just need to look after her, OK?”

It didn’t seem like a very definite answer, but Harper nodded.

When Gran arrived later on, Harper kept sneaking glances at her, trying to see if she didn’t look well. But Gran seemed happy to be there, chatting to Ava and making a fuss over Sammy. She did look a little bit tired, but that was all. Maybe she was having a good day, Harper thought hopefully, watching Sammy flop over next to Gran on the sofa, showing off his spotty tummy.

“Oh, are you teasing me now?” Gran murmured to him. “Are you going to jump on my hand if I try and stroke that lovely tummy, hmm? That’s what my old cat Bonnie did, every time.”

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Harper smiled.“He did that to me this morning.” Sammy didn’t show any signs of wanting to pounce on Gran, though. He just collapsed across her skirt, eyes half closed, making wheezy little purring noises as she stroked his ears and tickled under his chin. “How long ago did you have Bonnie, Gran?” Harper said, trying to think. “I’ve seen photos, but I don’t remember her.”

“Oh no, you wouldn’t.” Gran frowned. “Let me see, Bonnie must have died when you were about two. And before you were even thought of!” she added to Ava, who was curled up at the other end of the sofa. “Then for years I couldn’t bear to think of getting another cat – Bonnie was twenty, you see, she’d been with me so long. This little love might just change my mind, though. You’re so lucky to have him.”

Harper nodded. Gran was right– theywere lucky. Sammy was perfect and he fitted into their home so well. She couldn’t imagine any different.

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Sammy closed his eyes and slumped happily, half on, half off Gran’s lap. He liked Gran. She was calm and quiet, and she never decided to get up and move just when he’d got comfy…

She was rubbing under his chin with one finger now, just the way he liked it, the same way Harper did. Sammy purred hard, pointing his chin to the ceiling.

Harper was sitting next to Gran, and Ava was close by, and he could hear Mum humming to herself in the kitchen. All his family were just where they should be, and he was warm, and full, and sleepy.

Everything was good.

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“Have a nice day, Sammy,” Harper murmured, gently rubbing the top of his head. The little tabby kitten always seemed to want a lot of fuss and attention in the mornings. Harper was sure he understood that they were going to school and he’d be on his own for a while, so he was making up for it.

“I wish I could take you with me,” she told him. “It’s Monday, though, which means I’ve got a spelling test. You don’t want to come to school today, I promise.” Sammy batted at the end of her ponytail and Harper twirled it round for him, laughing as he sat up on his back legs, waving his paws around wildly to catch it. Then he froze as Mum’s mobile started to ring in her pocket.

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Mum made a face– she was trying to help Ava get her coat on – but she answered the phone with one hand and held Ava’s sleeve out for her with the other. “Hello? Yes… Oh! Oh no…”

Harper looked round at her, and so did Ava, caught by the panic in Mum’s voice.

“Yes. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“What is it?” Harper asked, and Ava stared at Mum, her eyes round with worry.

“That was the hospital. Gran’s had a fall.” Mum zipped Ava’s coat up tight and grabbed her backpack. “It’s OK. It’s OK. But I need to drop you two at school and head over there as quick as I can. I’ll have to cancel my shift at the shop, but they’ll understand…”

“Can’t we come with you?” Harper asked, her voice very small. She was thinking of how tired and slow Gran had seemed over the last few weeks. How Mum had needed to help her up off the sofa when she came for tea a few days before.

Mum patted her cheek.“I know you’re worried, love, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for you two to come to the hospital. We don’t know what’s happening and you’d probably just have to sit in a waiting room. They’re looking after her, Harper, she’s in the best place.”

Harper knew Mum was right– but it didn’t make her feel much better.

They dashed out of the house, and for once, Harper was too distracted to blow kisses to Sammy, sitting on the back of the sofa, watching them go.

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