‘So, what happened? He’s so early.’

‘My waters broke in the restaurant car park. Took me completely by surprise.’

‘Didn’t that happen when you had Chloe?’

‘Did it? I don’t remember.’

‘And they let you come home, even though you’re what, five weeks early?’

‘Thankfully he’s a healthy weight, 5lb 9oz.’

‘That is quite big for a premature baby, especially as your bump was so small. Look at him though, he’s so gorgeous.’

‘They said sometimes when people have a small bump, they don’t even realise they’re pregnant until they’re in labour.’

‘Well, thank God you knew.’

‘They said my dates could have been wrong.’ Maddy avoids looking at her directly. Be careful. She’s trying to catch you out.

‘And they didn’t notice that before?’

Maddy shakes her head.

‘Why didn’t you call me? I could have picked you up.’

‘I wanted to come straight home. Hospitals can be so… unfriendly.’ She fusses about, stacking nappies into a drawer.

‘Didn’t you need a baby seat for the car?’

‘I’d already bought one, didn’t I tell you?’ She wishes Sarah would stop asking questions, it’s making her dizzy.

‘Look at his tiny fingers, Mummy,’ Emily says, pointing at him.

‘And everything was all right with the birth?’

‘It was so quick. Really. I feel fine.’

‘He’s so beautiful, Maddy, the absolute image of Max, isn’t he?’ Sarah stops frowning at last.

‘Exactly like him.’ Maddy sighs. ‘I think he has my eyes.’

‘What’s his name? What’s his name?’ Emily jumps up and down on the spot.

‘He doesn’t have a name yet. You didn’t have a name for several weeks.’

Emily squints and taps her lips with a finger. ‘How about Sam?’ she says. ‘I like that name.’

‘I think it’s lovely too, darling. Hello Sam,’ Maddy says, stroking the side of his face.

Emily kisses his cheek. ‘Sam won’t have to go away like Chloe and Daddy, will he?’

Sarah grimaces.

‘Oh darling,’ Maddy kneels and hugs Emily, ‘I hope he’s going to be with us for a very long time.’

Maddy is up again through the night, bottle feeding Sam every three or four hours. The lack of sleep bothers her less than she imagined; in fact, she often wakes before he does. She’s enjoying having so much more energy. It doesn’t seem that long ago since she last had a newborn to look after. Her body glows with warmth each time she looks at him. Sam. Samuel. She likes it. Emily must have remembered they talked about the name when she first became pregnant.

It is Sunday afternoon and an unexpected warmth seeps into the day. Maddy hands Sam over to Emily who places him on the blanket in the pram.