That was what she did at night, when she was trying to sleep. She’d started doing it soon after I stopped breastfeeding her. It seemed to comfort her.

‘You did good, Daisy,’ I told her. ‘You did just fine.’

And for once, I felt sure that she understood what I was saying.

Then Mark came out and saw us, and froze, and I stepped away and Daisy’s cool little hand slipped away from my warm skin.

Mark said, ‘What on earth are you doing? It looks bizarre. What are people going to think?’

I shrugged. ‘They won’t care. Everybody’s just thinking about their own children. They’re not bothered about ours.’

‘Oh, come on. Everybody was noticing everything in there.’

Daisy raised her free hand to her wand and began to twirl it, rolling it steadily and watching the star as it turned.

Mark came closer and said, ‘That was one of the worst experiences of my life.’

‘Mark…’

‘It was awful. Humiliating. I don’t think I could bear to sit through anything like that ever again.’

We stared at each other.

‘She did her best,’ I said.

‘She turned her back to the audience, Paula. She doesn’t have a clue. It was embarrassing.’

‘She’s right here, Mark.’

‘Yes, and obviously she doesn’t have a clue what I’m saying. Do you remember how furious you were with my mother for saying there was something wrong? I think you owe her an apology.’

And with that he turned, struggled briefly with the catch securing the door, let himself out and was gone.

‘Daisy,’ I said. ‘We have to go back inside. They need to check that all the children are going home with the right people.’

I prised one of her hands off the wand and tried to lead her back in, but she was a dead weight pulling back and sinking her little nails hard into the palm of my hand, and shrieking as if I was trying to abduct her.

‘Daisy!’ I flung her off and shook out my hand: there were little crescent-shaped welts in my skin. ‘You don’t do that – ever!’

I was suddenly so furious I could have slapped her. She was furious, too: her little face was a snarl of rage.

At that moment Amy came in. I should have been embarrassed to be found shouting at a child who was completely out of control. Instead I felt like I’d been rescued. I had no idea what I might have done next if someone hadn’t intervened.

Amy spoke calmly over the uproar: ‘If you’d like to take Daisy straight home, Mrs Walsh, Donna says that’s fine.’

She might not have been able to hear me say thank you, but my gratitude must have been obvious. I grabbed Daisy’s coat and lunchbox and propelled her towards the door. She charged off down the ramp, and I had to chase after her again to catch up with her before she got to the gate that led out of the pre-school play area.