‘Make charm bracelets,’ Josie said promptly. She’d received a set as a birthday present. Unfortunately, but foreseeably, Maria loved the charms and the beads and tried to snatch them out of their compartments until Josie snapped at her. Maria began to cry.

‘She’s only acting her age,’ Nico said gently, swinging Maria off her stool.

Josie acted her age, too, glaring red-faced at the glittering mess of charms. ‘She doesn’t have to be so stupid.’

That was when Nico’s boss Anders chose to ring. When Nico saw his name on the screen of his mobile phone he switched it to silent and ignored it. But before he could get the girls into their coats to forget their spat with a walk on the common, Anders rang the home phone and Josie answered it.

‘Yes, he’s here,’ she said. ‘Dad, it’s for you.’

‘We need a meeting first thing Monday, Nico,’ boomed Anders in his half-jovial, half-bossy manner when Nico had smothered a sigh and taken the handset.

‘Yes, I replied to your email. It’s on my calendar.’ For now, Nico ignored the looming childcare issues.

Then Josie tried to help Maria into her coat and Maria protested, ‘Mydad do it!’ at a volume that made Nico realise he’d developed a headache.

‘A new world war is breaking out,’ he said lightly, over Maria’s howls. ‘I’d better go.’

A pause before Anders said, ‘Sure.’ He didn’t sound any more understanding than he ever did as he ended the call but Nico didn’t care. It was Saturday.

‘Hey, hey, who’s crying?’ he exclaimed, wrapping Maria up in her coat and tickling her. ‘The coat monster doesn’t like crying!’

Maria began to laugh instead and as Josie was pouting Nico chased her around with Maria still parcelled in his arms groaning, ‘The coat monster, the coat monster!’ until Josie burst into giggles too.

As they were bundling the buggy into the boot of the car, Vivvi called. Nico answered, opening the car door for the girls to get in.

Vivvi muttered tearfully, ‘Just quickly while Loren’s in the bathroom. She’s a bloody mess. I’m taking her home with me again. Red’s not feeling so good so I’ve got to scoot. I don’t know which way to turn but I’ll call you later.’

He was left saying, ‘Right, hope Red’s OK,’ to a dead phone.