The Night the Angels Came Read Online Free PDF Page A

of mine who also go can look after him while he’s there. I’ve been going to the same church a long time and the priest is aware of my illness, and does what he can to help.’
    ‘Would this arrangement work?’ Stella asked me.
    ‘Yes, I don’t see why not,’ I said, although I realized it would curtail us going out for the day each Sunday.
    ‘If you had something planned on a Sunday,’ Patrick said, as if reading my thoughts, ‘Michael could miss a week or perhaps he could go to the earlier mass at eight a.m.?’
    ‘Yes, that’s certainly possible,’ I said.
    ‘Thank you,’ Patrick said. Then quietly, almost as a spoken afterthought, ‘I hope Michael continues to go to church when I’m no longer here, but obviously that will be his decision.’
    ‘So can we just confirm what we have decided?’ Stella said, pausing from writing on her notepad. ‘Patrick, you don’t have a problem with Cathy not being a Catholic as long as Michael goes to church most Sundays?’
    ‘That’s right.’ He nodded.
    ‘And Cathy, you are happy to take Michael to church and collect him, and generally encourage and support Michael’s religion?’
    ‘Yes, I am.’
    Both Jill and Stella made a note. Patrick and I exchanged a small smile as we waited for them to finish writing.
    Stella looked up and at me. ‘Now, if this goes ahead, and we all feel it is appropriate for Michael to come to you, I know Patrick would like to visit you with Michael before he begins staying with you. Is that all right with you, Cathy?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Thank you, Cathy,’ Patrick said. ‘It will help put my mind at rest if I can picture my son in his new bed at night.’
    ‘It’ll give you both a chance to meet my children as well,’ I said.
    Jill and Stella both wrote again. ‘Now, to the other question Michael has raised with me,’ Stella said: ‘hospital visiting. When Patrick is admitted to hospital or a hospice, will you be able to take Michael to visit him?’
    ‘Yes, although I do have my own two children to think about and make arrangements for. Would it be every day?’
    ‘I would like to see Michael every day if possible, preferably after school,’ Patrick confirmed.
    ‘And at weekends?’ Jill asked.
    ‘If possible, yes.’
    It was obviously a huge undertaking, and while I could see that of course father and son would want to see as much of each other as possible I was wondering about the logistics of the arrangement, and also how Adrian and Paula would feel at being bundled into the car each day after school and driven across town to the hospital instead of going home and relaxing.
    ‘Were you thinking Cathy would stay for visiting too?’ Jill asked, clearly appreciating my unspoken concerns.
    ‘Not necessarily,’ Patrick said. ‘Cathy has her own family to look after and Michael is old enough to be left in the hospital with me. It would just need someone to bring and collect him.’
    ‘If Cathy wasn’t able to do it every day,’ Jill said to Patrick, ‘would you be happy if we used an escort to bring and collect Michael? We use escorts for school runs sometimes. All the drivers are vetted.’
    ‘Yes, that’s fine with me,’ he said. ‘It shouldn’t be necessary for a long time, as I intend staying in my home for as long as possible, until I am no longer able to look after myself.’ Which made me feel small-minded and churlish for not agreeing to the arrangement outright.
    ‘It’s not a problem,’ I said quickly. ‘I’ll make sure Michael visits you every day.’
    ‘Thank you, Cathy,’ Patrick said, then with a small laugh: ‘And don’t worry, you won’t have to arrange my funeral: I’ve done it.’
    I met Patrick’s gaze and hadn’t a clue what to say. I nodded dumbly. Jill and Stella made no comment either, for what could we possibly say?
    ‘So,’ Stella said, after a moment, ‘do either of you have any more questions or issues you wish to explore?’
    I shook my head. ‘I don’t think