She turns back to the sink and glances in the mirror. Her mother tells her not to give up, that Sam will be fine. Behind her Max has laid Sam across his lap and is taking off his nappy. She spins round. ‘Don’t do that?’ she yells.

‘He needs changing and it’s keeping in the heat.’

‘I’ll do it.’ She tries to take Sam from him but Max has already undone the tabs and the heavy nappy falls to the floor. There is a tiny crescent-shaped mark the size of a five pence piece on Sam’s lower back. Maddy’s eyes lock with Max’s. Before she can do anything, he’s turned Sam around.

‘Maddy?’

For a long second she watches him digesting what he’s seen. Her hand grips the sponge. Barely a drop of water left in it.

‘This is unusual, isn’t it?’ he asks, swallowing hard.

Maddy blinks.

‘I mean it’s like the one they showed on the news – on baby Charlie.’

‘Is it? You’re the father of both of them. There are bound to be similarities.’ She opens her hand and the sponge springs back to life.

‘I suppose so.’ He frowns and lays Sam across his legs and puts a clean nappy on him, but Sam’s body becomes floppy.

‘What’s wrong with him?’ Maddy sobs.

‘Call the doctor,’ Max says in a quiet voice.

‘We can’t,’ she screams.

‘Maddy – now!’

She doesn’t move, her eyes fixed on Sam.

‘Please!’ he shouts.

Sam’s neck and limbs hang loose.

Max gently passes him to her and he dashes into the bedroom. She catches sight of her mother’s flushed face in the mirror. She is crying.

Sam is quiet in Maddy’s arms when Max comes back in.

‘They said Dr Carey has just finished another call nearby, so he’s on his way here now.’

In a matter of minutes there is a loud rap at the door.

Max answers it and races back upstairs, followed by the doctor.

‘You were lucky to catch me,’ Dr Carey says, taking out his stethoscope.

Max describes what’s happened. The doctor shines a light in Sam’s eyes. He checks his neck and breathing. The rash has calmed down.

‘It’s probably a virus,’ Dr Carey tells them. His left eye twitches every time he speaks.

‘Thank God. I thought it was… worse.’ Max wipes his face on his sleeve.

‘Give him Calpol and keep sponging him down. These things often go as quickly as they come. Always worth getting it checked out though.’

Maddy nods.

‘I didn’t know you’d had your baby already, Mrs Saunders. When was he born?’

‘Saturday.’ She steals a glance at Max. His face has darkened.

‘I see. I must be thinking of another patient.’

Her eyes fix in a stare. She nods.