Liam smells like chocolate. Not the actual cocoa, but the comfort. There’s a tuft of dark hair at the top of his head, his skin is the pink of strawberry marshmallows. His eyes are closed. Joanna is trusting me to hold her baby while she makes the supper. I offered to make it. Joanna should be resting. But no, Joanna insisted she make the supper. Nothing will make her relinquish control. Not even giving birth to a baby.

Feeling his warmth, I think about what it must feel like to have a baby, bring a life into the world. I wonder what Mom thought, cooing at little Becca while I slept in her arms. What were her wishes for me? I bet she didn’t wish for me to get sacked, or wind up embroiled in a murder case. Or develop Alzheimer’s before I even get married. I wonder if Josie Reilly got the results of that blood test? Just because she dropped me from the clinical trial, with no real explanation, doesn’t mean she didn’t get the results. Maybe I should pay Dr. Josie Reilly a visit.

Liam’s eyes open, blue pools of innocence flickering with interest. He gurgles wet bubbles onto his lips. Watching the bubbles burst, I think about what it would be like to have a baby of my own, a little peach like Liam. But not yet.

Joanna didn’t complain much about the birth, took it all in her stride. Unlike Danny, who waffled on like she was the first woman ever to have a baby. But it was great to hear the delight and excitement in his voice, he has been so edgy lately. It must be something to do with the cops. He’s expected home any minute now from the office that can’t survive without him. The smell of whatever is happening in the pot is making me hungry. I should be hungry, all I ate was a couple of cookies this morning.

‘How’s life with you?’ Joanna asks, stirring the contents of the pot.

‘Fine.’

‘How was your mom yesterday? I heard you called in to tell her the good news with your dad.’

‘Yeah, she seemed happy, she smiled when Dad told her Liam’s name.’

As he wriggles in my arms, I sense Liam’s discomfort. ‘I think he might need to be changed,’ I say.

The pot is pushed to the back ring. Joanna, rushes to her duty.

‘I’ll do it,’ I say.

‘No, thanks,’ she says, smiling at Liam as she takes him out of my arms.