‘I might be able to use them.’ He took them from her and flicked the hairs. ‘Come in and have breakfast.’

‘I’m fine,’ she said.

He took hold of her wrist as she turned away. ‘Maddy, stop…’

‘There’s Dad’s old Morris Minor at the back there. It’s a wreck.’

‘Please…’

‘What’s wrong? I’m clearing out some old things; it needs to be done. They kept every little thing.’

‘You’ve not held our daughter for two days.’

‘You’re managing.’ She was facing him now.

‘But I need to go back to work on Monday.’

‘You can’t leave me on my own.’

‘You won’t be. Sarah is across the way and the midwife is coming over again.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I’ve asked her to. You’re a bit out of sorts.’

‘I’m fine, really. I just don’t know how to look after a baby.’

‘Hold her in your arms, feed her. She’s a good baby, she’ll sleep.’ He led her indoors. Emily was crying in her crib.

‘See, she keeps crying and I don’t know what’s wrong.’ She gripped Max’s arms. He gently peeled her fingers off him and guided her to sit on the bed. Then he lifted Emily out of her crib and she stopped crying. He handed her to Maddy and helped her hold the baby in the crook of her arm.

‘You stay sitting there and I’ll go and make up her milk.’

When Max came back a few minutes later, Maddy was standing by the window, gently rocking Emily in her arms.

‘That’s the way.’ Max put his arms around them both.

‘I was showing her the garden, telling her that she’ll have lots of fun playing in it when she’s older.’

‘And I’ll build her a playhouse with all that old wood.’ Max kissed Maddy’s hair. ‘See, you’re going to be a wonderful mother.’

Chapter Twenty-Three

Max: May 2012