Being present

What a shame the girls are poorly. I love you all visiting, especially on my birthday,” Betty said, gazing at her granddaughter, Pat. Seeing her great grandkids was always the highlight of her day and

I’m a monster!’ ‘No, you’re not.’ ‘I am actually evil. Look!’ With a sigh, Doug tore himself away from the big game on TV, and glanced at the piece of paper his wife Lisa had thrust at him. ‘You look

RIGHT. I have come to a decision,” Mel said one weekend, as she cleared away the breakfast things. “In that case, I’m off. Bye, Mum, see you later!” “Wait, Seth. Stay exactly where you are! You have n

JANUARY 1. Hazel sat in the quiet cottage. It was one of two, semidetached, on the outskirts of the village, completely surrounded by fields. When she looked out of the window, all she saw was unrelen

I’M bored.” Ruth looked up from her magazine. How could something so crammed with TV programme listings have so little in it? “There’s nothing on, Max,” she said. Her husband turned his head. “Nothing

WHEN Jade’s phone rang and the name “Mum” appeared on screen, her first reaction was to reject the call. Her mum communicated with her frequently, normally by text message, and often for the most mund