It’s the windiest day Maddy can remember in a long time. She lifts Sam out of the plastic baby bath and into the towel on her lap. She didn’t think she’d be able to do it, but Emily being there has given her the confidence she needs. The leaded window rattles and the wind whistles through a gap in the frame. She lets Emily dab dry his soft cushiony skin. Only once he is dressed and warm is Emily allowed to cradle him.

‘Time for a little sleep, Sammy.’ Maddy takes him from her and holds him up to the mirror. He definitely has her eyes and ears. She smiles at her mother holding him, reflected back at her. In her bedroom, she and Emily sit for a while and take turns rocking the crib, watching him in contented silence. Emily winds up the mobile and it plays ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’.

‘Shall we make cakes today?’ Maddy kisses her cheek and Emily coyly shrugs her off, giggling as she tickles her.

In the kitchen, she rolls up Emily’s sleeves and ties up both their aprons. From the cupboard she takes out flour and sugar, and butter from the fridge. Emily picks out two eggs from the wire basket on the counter.

‘Are we making Chloe’s favourite muffins?’ Emily asks.

‘That would be lovely, a thank you for sending us baby Sam.’ At that moment, a huge gust of wind wallops the house making everything shake. ‘Goodness me.’ Maddy peers out of the window. The playhouse has blown across the lawn along with toys and broken branches and all sorts of debris. Is their house going to spin into the sky like Dorothy’s in The Wizard of Oz?

‘Can we save some muffins for when Dad comes home?’

Maddy hesitates, contemplating Emily’s solid belief that Max will return. They’re coping just fine without him.

‘Do we have any chocolate chips?’ Emily continues, as though she didn’t really expect an answer.

‘In here somewhere.’ Maddy spins the cupboard carousel full circle but it’s going so fast, everything’s a blur.

‘Slow it down, Mummy.’

She stops it with her hand and tries to concentrate fully. Emily spots the packet secured with a peg.

‘Dad loves chocolate.’ Emily spoons an extra helping of chocolate chips into the mixture and buries them with a wooden spoon.

Maddy wonders if Max loves her as much as chocolate. Does he love her more than Alison? Does he love her at all? There are so many questions spinning in her head in a mini cyclone. She won’t be able to rest until she knows the answers. Emily plops a dollop of the mixture into each paper case, counting them aloud as she goes.

‘Two for you, two for me, two for Dad, two for Chloe, two for baby and two for luck.’