"It's..." He looked at Connie, who nodded to him. "I need to take this." He took his his phone and went to stand just outside of the living room, facing the bannister.

"Who is it?" Grace asked her mother, who glanced every so often to the doorway to only see the corner of his shirt.

"It's his niece, Mia. Her dad... Jacob's brother..." She trailed off, uncertain of where this was going to lead. "He died recently." She watched as her daughter's face fell, and she hugged her knees to her chest.

"He didn't say."

Connie put her tea down on the table and brought her daughter to her, holding her as she heads Jacob's low voice talking on the phone.

"Let me speak to Grandma, small-stuff?" There was a pause, and Jacob came into view in the doorway, Connie straightening up as she saw him.

"Yes, I'm with her now, but it's not really..." He saw Connie's eyes widen as she correctly identified the "her" was in fact herself, and he quickly moved back outside the room. Thankfully, Grace had not caught on, but was aware that her mother felt tense next to her.

"Mum?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Gracie." She glanced again outside to the door, before squeezing Grace to her and planting a kiss on her head. "Five minutes, then bedtime."

Grace rolled her eyes, her familiar self swiftly returning. She cuddled into her mother's side, the two of them listening as Jacob's voice began to rise.

They could both hear the anger in his voice, then then suddenly he went quiet, and Connie felt both herself Grace tense when Jacob walked into the room looking apologetic. "I need to go."

"No. You can't. You promised!" Grace pushed herself up.

"What's happened?" Connie questioned, standing up.

Jacob glanced between them before leaving his gaze on Grace. "I'm sorry, Grace, but I really need to go. My niece...she was in an accident a week ago and her...my...she doesn't have anyone else. My mother has been looking after her, but Mia has developed an infection and they've just left her alone at the hospital. She's scared, and I know you know how that feels." Jacob spoke earnestly, hoping she would understand.

"…We'll come. Mum and I will come, too." Grace offered, determined.

"We can't do that, sweetheart. You have school in the morning, I have work…" Connie attempted, though she wanted nothing more than to go to Jacob and pull him close.

"Please, Mum. Jacob knows what to do when it happens...I won't be any trouble, I promise. I'll do whatever you want me to do!" Grace's breathing began to quicken once more.

Connie felt trapped, and she knew Jacob could sense it. She wanted to go, every part of her being told her that. She wanted to see Mia, and comfort her. She wanted to go because that was what Grace wanted, and staying here may make things worse. She wanted to go so that Grace could meet Mia, and Jacob would have her there too. But if they went, Grace would find out that she had lied to her; not to mention the fact that Zoe wasn't even in the country any more.

"Connie-"

"Grace, are you absolutely sure that you feel up to it?" She interrupted him, addressing her daughter directly. Grace was already halfway across the room, but turned back to answer her mother.

"Yes. We have to go." She then went upstairs, and returned five minutes later with her backpack and her coat.

"Thank you, firecracker." Jacob ruffled Grace's hair as he passed her, going to pick up Connie's bag and coat from the hallway. She took her car keys from where she had dropped them on the floor earlier, and went through into the kitchen with the mugs. Grace waited for them at the door, and Jacob quickly followed Connie through into the kitchen, holding her forearms as she looked up at him, evidently nervous. Grace wasn't ready for this.

"Hey, we'll look after her. And she'll get to meet Mia. It's going to be okay, Con." He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, and she took her things from him before exhaling quickly and following Grace out of the house.

"Con?" He stopped before locking the door, a thought quickly dawning on him. "The car."

"What about it, Jacob?"

"Unpractical."

She looked at him, and then to Grace, who had one hand already on the car door.

"Mum, Jacob can drive me. You take the bike."

"I don't know, Gracie. It's been a long day, and it would be a long drive. I-"

"Elle." Jacob suddenly realised.

"What about Elle?" Connie snapped, regretting it for a moment until she saw the slight smile that her tone brought to Jacob's lips.

"She lives down the road, I'll go and borrow one of her cars. I'll be there and back in 5 minutes, tops." Jacob pulled out his phone to message the doctor.

"How many cars does she have?" Connie mumbled more to herself than to anyone else.

"I'll go with him, you wait here." Grace unceremoniously dumped her bag into Connie's hands, and before she could protest, Grace raced away, one hand holding tightly to Jacob's. Sighing, Connie sat on the front steps, trying to comprehend how her daughter had gone from hating Jacob to trusting him more than she trusted her mother.