Chris sat in a trance, unable to take in what was happening. It’s going to be OK, Anne had said. She was now in her car, following the ambulance. Did that mean his baby was going to be able to live a normal life? He dared to hope.

‘It can be a bit overwhelming to begin with,’ the paramedic riding with them said, seeing his expression. ‘Is this your first child?’

‘Yes,’ Chris said quietly.

‘Don’t worry. Your partner and baby are fine. He will probably go in an incubator for a while. It’s usual with prems.’

Chris nodded. The paramedic had checked Jan’s and Owen’s vital signs and was now entering her observations on a chart.

The siren sounded to clear traffic and then finally they were pulling into the ambulance park at Coleshaw Hospital. The rear doors opened and the paramedic who’d been driving appeared. Chris stayed where he was as they wheeled Jan out first. Then Anne appeared. ‘Come with me,’ she told him.

Chris stood and, carrying his baby, went carefully down the rear steps of the ambulance, then followed the paramedics and Anne into the hospital. It was busy.

‘I can take the baby through if you could register your partner and child at reception,’ the paramedic said to Chris.

He looked back, unsure.

‘Yes, of course,’ Anne replied, and touched his arm. ‘This way.’

Still in a daze, Chris handed over his baby and went with Anne to reception.

‘Jan Hamlin and baby Owen,’ Anne said to the receptionist, then gave their details. Anne had taken charge and Chris was grateful.

‘Thank you,’ the receptionist said once the registration was complete. ‘You can go to see them now. Straight down that corridor.’ She pointed in the direction they were to go, although Anne knew the way.

They took a few steps away from reception and Anne drew Chris to one side. ‘Before you see Jan, I need to tell you something.’

Chris stared back, petrified. ‘Why? What’s wrong?’

‘The baby is all right. Normal,’ Anne said, her voice low. ‘I’ve checked him over, so be careful what you say to the staff here.’

‘You mean he doesn’t have the condition?’ Chris asked in disbelief.

‘That’s right. He’s premature, but you’ve been lucky this time. He will need corrective surgery on his feet, but as far as I can tell that’s all that’s wrong.’

‘I can’t believe it,’ Chris said, his eyes filling. ‘I really can’t. Did you know while Jan was pregnant?’

‘I dared to hope. I thought we were in with a chance, but I couldn’t be certain until he was born. Which is why I didn’t say anything to you in case I was wrong. And of course Jan never knew about any of it.’

‘Thank goodness she was saved from all these months of worry,’ Chris sighed with relief.