They were home an hour later. At the restaurant, with no Joanna-related tasks to do for the first time in the ten weeks since she was born, free to do and talk about whatever they wanted, they had talked about nothing other than their daughter. By the time they had eaten their main courses, Tom was worried that something might have gone wrong.

I think we should go, he said.

We’ll be OK. Call your mum and check.

He shook his head. He had been gripped by the sensation that he had to get home, right away, or something awful would happen.

When they arrived home his mum was on the couch, watching old episodes of the Great British Bake Off. She looked at her watch.

Were they closed? she said. You just left.

How was it? How’s Jo? he asked.

She’s lovely. Fast asleep. She was no trouble at all. Why don’t you two go to the pub and have a drink. She’ll be fine.

Tom started to say no, but Alice grabbed his elbow. Good idea. Thanks Margaret. We won’t be late.

Later, when his mum was leaving, she hesitated on the doorstep. You know, Tom, it might be worth letting Joanna learn to go to sleep herself.

What do you mean?

I don’t want to interfere, love, so you do as you see best, but if you always create the perfect sleeping conditions then you’ll teach her to expect those. It might be better to let her develop a bit more – flexibility.

That was it. She’d not mentioned anything since, but he could tell she thought they – he in particular – were overprotective.

So be it. Better over than under. It was no bad thing for a father to protect his daughter, after all. And she needed him. She was a baby.

He stared at the CAD model again. It was hard to concentrate, and he closed his eyes. Even a few seconds would help.

‘Not getting much sleep?’

Tom jerked upright and opened his eyes. Carol, his boss, was standing by his desk, a paper cup of coffee in her hand. Her nose and mouth were concealed by a mask, but her eyes were smiling.

‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I was just – I needed a little rest.’

‘That’s fine. I’ve been there.’ She handed him the coffee. ‘Take this. It’s fresh. I’ll get another. Joanna still not sleeping?’

‘Not really. She’s up all night, for the most part.’

‘How old is she?’

‘Five months. She’s at the doctors for a check-up today. Alice is going to ask if there’s anything wrong.’

‘I doubt it,’ Carol said. ‘Some babies aren’t great sleepers. My second was a holy terror. I still have nightmares about it now. I’m sure she’s perfectly healthy.’

‘I hope so,’ Tom said. ‘But one way or another, I need some sleep.’

Alice