That sounded better. A lot better -- only it put her, Toby, in the position of the bad parent. Who scrambled for childcare at the last minute, put trust in someone whose poster was taped up beside a warning about a Mask killer? She did.
"It's my childminder. She's sick and normally -- Lily, my daughter. She can't get sick. I need someone this evening. I work at the hospital, you can come by and see the place, do the checks," please, Toby's voice said for the second time that day, without her meaning to, and she closed her eyes and counted to three before speaking again.