Without another thought, Maddy reaches in. Alison doesn’t stir. Newborns are always so much lighter than you remember. She brings him gently to her breast. He curls into her like a snail taken from its shell. Maddy breathes in the soft warmth of the new skin and her heart aches with longing. She could tuck the little mite under her coat and walk away, but he squirms, looking for milk and her sweet baby lets out a mewl. She holds tighter, but he keeps wriggling and one of his arms breaks free from the blanket. ‘Baby Boy of Alison Wood’, reads the tag around the tiny wrist. They’ve got the name wrong but still her heart gives a little skip. A boy. She knew it all along. She offers her knuckle to his lips and he tries to suck but his face crumples into a cry. Turning away from the bed she hikes up her top and unclips her maternity bra. Pressing her fingers around her nipple, she guides his mouth to latch on. His suck is firm and her whole body buzzes at the sensation and sheer wonder of feeding her own baby. His cherry lips move up and down, pulling, pulling on her. Then he lets go and his face reddens as he cries with all his might. Alison stirs. Maddy covers herself up with her coat, jogging him up and down until he stops.

‘Who are you?’ Alison sits up, bleary-eyed.

‘I was passing, he sounded distressed.’ Maddy places the baby back in the cot, avoiding eye contact.

‘You should have woken me.’ She picks the baby up and he starts crying again. Alison looks her up and down but Maddy is quick to turn away.

‘You looked like you needed the rest.’ Maddy ties her coat belt.

‘Don’t I know you?’ Alison’s eyes narrow.

‘He’s so beautiful, isn’t he?’ Maddy steps sideways, blood pulsing in her neck. She’ll have to come back for him.

‘Aren’t you the woman who had a go at me in the shop?’ Alison points a finger at her.

Head down, Maddy swishes back the curtain and leaves.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Max: Early September 2019

At six o’clock, Max arrived outside the village hall. Maddy met him in the foyer.

‘You’re late,’ she hissed, ‘where have you been?’

‘In traffic,’ he said, heading for the double doors.

‘We’re sitting at the back, don’t make a noise.’