I peered down. I hadn’t expected much but Maud was right. He was a faintly waxy grey, but his skin looked soft and he was chubby, with a full head of black hair, dimples in his cheeks and large, brown eyes that seemed to recognise me.

‘Look at our boy,’ Maud said.

I turned. Abdullah was in the doorway, his eyes full of tears. Maud passed me the bundle and I handed him over silently. Abdullah kissed his nose and fingertips. Maud lay back, shining.

‘Josephine, can you ask the doctor if he needs to rest, or eat?’ she said.

I hadn’t noticed the woman in the corner before. She came over to Maud and smoothed the hair away from her face then took her hand. ‘Yes, Bibi,’ she said. ‘You need sleep, Bibi.’

‘I can’t,’ Maud said.

‘I look after baby.’

Maud squeezed her hand and Josephine left.

I crossed the room and kissed her on her forehead. ‘Well done,’ I said. ‘I’m proud of you.’

‘I didn’t think I could be this happy,’ she said, looking up at me. There were smudges around her eyes.

‘Josephine’s right – you need sleep.’

‘Don’t fuss.’

‘Are you warm enough?’

‘Maybe another blanket. It’s in my wardrobe.’

I opened the wardrobe door and retrieved the thick blue blanket Sylvie had given us one Christmas from the top shelf. A folded sheet of paper drifted out with it, and fluttered to the floor. I couldn’t make out the writing on the inside, but I could clearly see the outline of a company stamp, with a crown in the middle, in the bottom left corner.

‘Don’t look at that,’ Maud said sharply.

‘Something important?’

‘Something private.’

I thought I caught her and Abdullah exchanging a look. ‘I won’t.’ I picked up the letter and replaced it in the wardrobe, suddenly feeling redundant. ‘I’ll drop Gregory back if he doesn’t want to stay.’

‘You’ll be back soon though, won’t you?’ Maud said.

‘Yes.’ I covered her with the blanket and kissed her again. ‘What are you going to do about Mother?’

‘I can’t think about that now.’

‘Of course not. What about a name? Have you thought about that?’

‘We thought Solomon.’

‘I like it.’

‘Good.’ She smiled.

I nodded to Abdullah, who nodded back, and left the room. Gregory’s head was resting on the back of the sofa, chin tilted upwards. He started when I spoke, and stood up.

‘Shall I drive you back? Or do you want to spend the night here?’

‘I should go back,’ he said.

‘Thank you. Again.’

‘It’s my job.’

‘Maud seems well.’

‘She’s very brave.’

I stuck my hand out, and he shook it awkwardly.