Max’s drive back to Uxbridge took over two hours because of heavy traffic. He arrived home just before 8 p.m. He could hear movement upstairs and the low-pitch sound of Maddy’s voice. The television was on in the empty living room, silenced, the screen flickering in the dark. The curtains were drawn and a circle of lamplight showed the sag in the sofa where Maddy had been sitting, her knitting abandoned on the footstool. The dogs dragged themselves out of their basket, wagging their tails and sniffing his hands.

In the kitchen, he took the bottle of whiskey down from the shelf, poured a shot and knocked it back, then another. He kicked off his shoes, put on his slippers and plodded upstairs.

Chloe’s bedroom door was open, Maddy kneeling by her bed. She glanced up at him. ‘She’s been having night terrors again,’ she whispered, sweeping her hand across Chloe’s forehead. ‘You reek of whiskey, Max,’ she said, drawing back from him.

‘Are you all right, my angel?’ He crouched down and Chloe snuggled into the crook of his arm. He stroked her damp hair.

‘Back to sleep time,’ Maddy said.

‘I want Daddy.’

Maddy half smiled and kissed Chloe on the forehead.

‘Can we read, My Dad?’ Chloe pulled the book from her shelf.

‘Go on then.’ He was too tired to argue. They read the book together until the last lines, about how much Dad loves her and always will, which as usual he lets Chloe recite on her own.

‘I certainly will. I love you to the moon and back.’ He gave her a cuddle. He couldn’t help wishing he’d been a dad to his first child too. He sighed and put the book back on the shelf.

‘Dad?’

He glanced over his shoulder.

‘Let’s tuck you in.’ He pressed the back of his hand to his nose and mouth to halt the threat of tears.

‘You look sad, Daddy.’

‘I’m okay. Good night, my angel.’ He blew her a kiss.

Max crept into Emily’s room. She was awake, reading Harry Potter.

‘Daddy!’ She reached up to hug him.

‘How’s my big girl today?’ He sat on the bed.

‘Miss Ryan gave me three cool class tokens for reading and spelling.’

‘Three? That’s fantastic, aren’t you clever?’

‘So, as I’ve been good, can I go on your phone?’

He pulled a funny face and Emily laughed.

‘Please… Daddy.’

‘All right, just for a little while.’ He took his phone out of his pocket and unlocked it. She snuggled into his chest and opened Snapchat. They took turns holding the screen up and watching their faces changing, from devil horns and red eyes to cat’s ears and whiskers. Emily’s favourite was Max becoming Mr Fox but with his own human eyes and teeth. When he spoke and moved his mouth around Emily rolled about laughing.