‘Yes! I just said.’
‘I know. I’m just trying to get you to say some things twice. Because it is doubly nice. And it makes bears even less scary. Okay?’
‘Okay.’
‘Does Daddy work?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you know what Daddy’s job is?’
‘Yes. He cuts people!’
For a brief moment she forgot Ash was a surgeon and wondered if she was in the house of a serial killer. ‘Cuts people?’
‘Yes, he cuts people’s bodies and makes them better!’
‘Ah, yes. Of course.’
‘He saves people!’
‘Yes, he does.’
‘Except when he is sad and the person died.’
‘Yes, that is sad.’
‘Does Daddy work in Bedford still? Or does he work in Cambridge now?’
She shrugged. ‘Cambridge?’
‘Does he play music?’
‘Yes. Yes, he plays the music. But very very very very badly!’ She giggled as she said that.
Nora laughed too. Molly’s giggle was contagious. ‘It’s ... Do you have any aunts and uncles?’
‘Yes, I have Aunt Jaya.’
‘Who is Aunt Jaya?’
‘Daddy’s sister.’
‘Anyone else?’
‘Yes, Uncle Joe and Uncle Ewan.’
Nora felt relieved her brother was alive in this timeline. And that he was with the same man he was with in her Olympic life. And he was clearly in their lives enough for Molly to know his name.
‘When did we last see Uncle Joe?’
‘Christmas!’
‘Do you like Uncle Joe?’
‘Yes! He’s funny! And he gave me Panda!’
‘Panda?’
