The previous day I had shown some of the children in my class pictures of Livi on my iPad. There had been much cooing from the female contingent, and various helpful observations from the boys, ranging from, ‘My brother once pooed all the way up to his own head,’ to my personal favourite, ‘She looks like Noel Fielding from Bake Off.’

I was on my way into school. Tyler was, for once, queuing outside and waiting for the gates to be unlocked by Barry, the caretaker. His father was standing with him, smart in a dark grey suit. I couldn’t help thinking he looked just like someone on their way to a court hearing, as he kept pulling at the collar of his shirt as though it were choking him.

I nodded quickly and turned away and then heard Bennett say, ‘Hey … Mr, uh, Mr Little?’

Warily, I turned back to him and tried to arrange my face into something friendly and non-confrontational, remembering I’d had that exact intention before. And look how that all turned out.

‘Tyler tells me you have a baby girl,’ he grunted and then, while my brain was still trying to catch up, he stuck out his hand. ‘Congratulations.’

A little dazed, I took his hand and we shook.

I felt like I could finally trust myself to smile and it not be misunderstood.

‘Thank you, Mr Bennett,’ I said, ‘that’s really, really nice of you.’

He knuckled the top of Tyler’s head, a slight reddening on his cheeks now, and he avoided my eye.

‘You take good care of her,’ he said, then, ‘Goodbye you, be a good boy.’

I thanked him again as he turned and walked away, head lowered and hand reaching into his pocket for car keys.

‘My dad has a company car,’ said Tyler in a rush, and I beamed down at him.

‘That’s absolutely brilliant, mate,’ I said. ‘Well done, your dad.’

I was warmed through by this for the entire day.

Things had been better at home too, although Anya still seemed a little distant. Julia’s treatment had started and she seemed okay. I was really starting to feel as though the horrors of the autumn and the weird adjustment to new parenthood might finally be easing into something better and more stable.

We had a staff meeting at the end of the day and I even found myself volunteering to be the liaison teacher for a French exchange visit with a school in Calais next year, such was my good mood.

Coming out of the gates at about four, I went to check my phone and saw that there were about ten messages and several missed calls from Anya.

The messages started as Ell, I need you home NOW xx through PLEASE COME HOME!!!!!’ to WHERE THE FUCK R U????????????