He twitched his nose and rolled his lips in and out a couple of times.
‘Thank you.’
I gave a little nod against the pillow in acceptance.
Charlie stood, tucked me in a little more and then crouched down again.
I frowned in question.
‘I hate this. You’re normally so bouncy and full of life. I really don’t want to leave you feeling so rough.’
‘Just a cold,’ I forced out. ‘Now, go away.’
He made to stand, and I snagged his arm. ‘Thank you.’
He gave me a big hug and a half-hearted smile, then made his way to the door.
‘Call me if you want anything. OK. Or text me. Probably best. Save your voice. And I’ll see you when I get back from my trip, if not before.’
I nodded.
‘OK?’ he called again.
I realised he probably couldn’t see me nodding in the huge cocoon so I wriggled an arm free and stuck it up in the air with my thumb up.
‘Good. Get some rest.’
I wiggled the thumb as answer.
The door closed behind him and I quickly pulled my arm back in and snuggled down.
31
It was three days later when I finally spoke to Charlie on the phone shortly before heading off to bed.
‘Hello, you.’
‘Libby?’
‘You sound surprised. Did you mean to call someone else?’
‘No! No, not at all. It just doesn’t sound like you.’
‘I promise it is.’ I laughed, before proceeding to launch into a massive coughing fit. I muted the phone whilst I pulled it together.
‘Still there?’ I asked when I’d recovered.
‘Yes. You OK?’
‘Yeah, just the cough gets set off whenever I laugh.’
‘I’ll try not to make you laugh, then.’
‘Good plan.’
‘You know, you could probably boost your income for a bit whilst you’ve got this cold.’
‘What?’
