Nell: Why are you calling me so early?
Me: I’m at the airport hotel and I wanted to talk to you before I go down for breakfast.
Nell: I don’t mind waiting until after breakfast. Take your time. I’ll be in bed trying to get back to sleep.
Me: Did I wake you?
Nell: Of course you did.
Me: I needed to know you were all fine and coping without me.
Nell: You only left yesterday.
Me: I know, but it feels like ages.
Nell: If you must know, David is refusing to believe you’ve really gone away.
Me: Oh dear.
Nell: He keeps staring out of the window waiting for you to come back.
Me: Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: He also refused to join us in the kitchen for dinner, which was jacket potatoes with baked beans and cheese, by the way.
Me: I love a jacket potato.
Nell: I don’t. There was no meat. Herr Hoffmann is on a health streak. We’ll be vegetarians by the time you come back.
Me: Did Dave go without his dinner?
Nell: Of course not. David had his meal in the living room.
Me: All alone?
Nell: Yes, but I heard the television so he can’t have been looking out of the window all the time.
Me: I hate to think of him pining for me. He’ll waste away.
Nell: Waste away? He had seconds and a pudding.
Me: At least missing me hasn’t affected his appetite.
Nell: You need to stop worrying about us all and concentrate on yourself.
Me: I will.
Nell: This is your special time with the family.
Me: Yes.
Nell: Now go and get some breakfast and call me later when you’re at the airport.
Me: Ok.
Nell: We’re all absolutely fine.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
