Next morning, when Cindy took Sarah her tea she didn't answer her when she said cheerfully, 'Good morning, Gran. It's another lovely day.'

She pulled the curtains back, and let in the bright May sunshine.

'Come on, Gran. Don't let your tea get cold,' she said as she went back downstairs to prepare Sarah's breakfast.

Half an hour later, she came back carrying the tray. She noticed that Sarah hadn't touched her tea.

'Come on, Gran, you've let your tea get cold. Let me get you a fresh cup,' she said. But when she looked down at Sarah, she realised that her grandmother would never drink a cup of tea again. She had stopped breathing. Sarah was dead. There was a smile on her lips, and she looked peaceful, as if she had died in a sleep full of pleasant dreams.

Cindy sat down on the bed, her head in her hands, crying helplessly. She realised just how much she'd grown to love this crazy but lovely old lady. All their times together came back to her: the funny words Sarah had made up, her changes of mood, her forgetfulness, her old songs... and above all the birthday trip to Brighton.

Cindy dried her eyes with a handkerchief, and sat up. She knew she had to do something quickly. The first thing was to tell her mother. She called Jan's office number.

'Mum, I'm sorry, but I have some bad news for you. Gran died in her sleep last night. I thought she was asleep when I took her tea, but when I came back with her breakfast I saw...' Cindy's voice broke as she started to cry again. 'Oh, Mum. Why did she have to die like this? We didn't even have the chance to say goodbye to her properly-'

There was a pause before Jan spoke.

'It's a shock for us both, I know,' said Jan, 'but just think: maybe this was the best way for her to die. She had a lovely day out on her birthday - thanks to you. And it seems she died in her sleep, without fear and without pain. Thank goodness for that. But, oh my God...' Cindy heard her mother suddenly break down in tears. She soon recovered.

'Listen, Cindy, call the doctor immediately, then just wait for me. I'll tell my boss, Dave, what has happened and I'll be back with you in about an hour. Don't try to do anything else till I get there, right?'

'OK, Mum. I think I need a strong cup of coffee to keep me going. I'll wait for you.'

***

Cindy was a bit surprised to see her mother arrive outside the house in a car.

'Dave was so sweet,' said Jan as she came in. 'He gave me a lift home. He was very understanding.'