In the kitchen, Ella glanced around and quickly shut the door. Hurriedly grabbing a couple of empty beer bottles, she chucked them in the bin. Having shoved an empty cereal box on top of them she turned round. Spotting another empty bottle by the sink, she pushed it out of sight underneath the cereal box. Grabbing a full ash tray, she tipped the contents into the bin as well, thanking her lucky stars she hadn’t left it in the living room for Jessica to see. The kitchen stank of stale cigarettes. The tiny window was painted shut so she flapped a grubby tea towel, and wafted the reeking air around without lessening the smell. Having concealed her drinking and smoking as far as she could, she warmed the baby’s milk and took the bottle through to Jessica who was still sitting where Ella had left her, cradling the baby in her arms.

‘Here you are,’ Ella said, holding out the bottle.

‘Don’t make any noise,’ Jessica replied in a whisper. ‘She’s gone to sleep.’

That was hardly surprising. The baby lying so peacefully in Jessica’s arms must be exhausted after keeping Ella awake virtually all night, crying and whimpering, but Ella thought better of complaining. At least she still had a baby to wake her up at night, unlike Jessica. So she didn’t answer honestly, nor did she comment on how it must be wonderful for Jessica to be able to have a proper night’s sleep. Somehow that didn’t seem very tactful under the current circumstances, and Ella couldn’t afford to upset her visitor.

‘How are you coping?’ she asked quietly. ‘Are you all right?’

Jessica shook her head and a tear slid slowly down her cheek. ‘It’s been really awful,’ she admitted. ‘Sometimes I wish I’d never had her.’

‘Don’t say that,’ Ella replied. ‘You’ll have her back with you soon. You just have to be patient. It’ll all come right in the end. You have to believe that.’

Jessica seemed to want to stay there forever, staring at the baby lying in her lap, her face concealed by a veil of blonde hair. Ella sat watching in silence, too tired to ask her visitor when she might be thinking of leaving. At last Jessica stirred and handed the sleeping baby to Ella who took her to her cot in the bedroom without waking her.

‘You know it’s not a problem, you coming here like this,’ Ella said hesitantly.

Instead of offering her money, Jessica smiled and thanked her. She stood up to go.

‘I wouldn’t ask, wouldn’t even mention it,’ Ella said, ‘only I’m a bit short this week.’

‘Short?’ Jessica echoed, looking faintly puzzled.

Ella took the plunge. Jessica would be leaving soon, and there was no knowing when she might be back.

‘Money,’ Ella muttered. ‘I hate to ask but I’m skint.’