I rise, and I shamelessly allow him to peel off my skanky clothes and probably stinky underwear as if I’m a helpless child. With great care, he releases my hair from its knotty bun. Then he takes my hand, leading me gently into the shower and under the torrent of water.

Oh wow. It’s gloriously hot and the pressure is amazing. I stand under it like a zombie. I just want to sink to the floor and let it wash over me. Brendan is eyeing me with concern, and I gaze back at him exhaustedly. I swear there are two of him.

Mmm. Two Brendans.

‘Jesus, Marls, I can’t bear this,’ he says finally. ‘Come here. Let me give you a hug, for fuck’s sake.’

My tiny nod is all the permission he needs. He closes the space between us and joins me under the spray, banding an arm around my back and tugging me close. With his other hand, he cradles my head, pressing it against his chest.

The relief is instant. His body is huge, the most physical reminder of how much I’ve missed having any kind of support. I bury my face in his chest and luxuriate in the incredible sensation of hot water and warm, solid man. If he wasn’t holding me up, I’m not sure I could have stayed upright for another second.

He holds me more tightly, crushing me to him, his body a cocoon. He drowns out everything else: the exhaustion, the worry, the isolation, the noise. I wrap my arms around his torso and hold on tight, an overwhelmed child clutching her giant teddy bear for dear life. Whatever fuckwittery he’s been guilty of recently, right now he’s undoubtedly my safe space, my port in a storm.

Gently, silently, we sway together, his hand smoothing my hair as the water soaks it. After a few moments like this, he speaks.

‘I’m so fucking sorry you’ve had to go through this, sweetheart. I’m just—I’m so blown away by you. Athena’s filled me in on a lot of stuff.’ He pauses. When he speaks, his voice is gruff. ‘I think you might be the best parent I’ve ever met.’

I give a little laugh-sob then, because what he doesn’t know is that anyone would do this. In my place, anyone would fight for their child’s health and wellbeing like I have. It’s all part of what you sign up for when you have a kid.