While there was a part of Susan that wanted nothing more than to be out of that room and away from the nightmare of it all, she hesitated at Charlie's suggestion, reaching out one hand to rest on Nicky's back. He was sick. Could she afford to be away from him, even for a second? She looked up at Charlie, unable to keep the anguish of it from her eyes—and it was his expression that convinced her. She couldn't give him much to make up for all this time that he hadn't known, but she could give him this.
"Be good for your grandmum," she said, kissing the side of Nicky's head. When she turned back to Charlie, she held his gaze silently for a moment before saying, "You'll send someone to get me if anything—" She swallowed. "Anything, okay? To my flat. I'll be back in about half an hour."
If she was going to step out, she might as well pop back to her flat and collect some of the things they would need. Nicky's stuffed dragon, a change of clothes for herself, probably a million other things that would come to mind. And she could pop downstairs and talk to Matilda.... She took a deep breath and readied herself, glad for the long list of things to occupy her. Then she stood on her tiptoes, kissed Charlie's cheek, glanced one last time at Nicky, and then left them to talk.