‘Shit, why would you even think that? I’m too tired and worried to be messing with you, Lou. Remember the awful dream you had when you thought you’d squashed Noah? That was real to you too. You’ve had another vivid dream. Or two. You must have something playing on your mind or something.’

‘Or something,’ Louisa muttered.

‘What is it? What’s getting you so worked up you’re practically hallucinating?’

She hadn’t broached the subject of him asking Tiff to take Noah to the clinic – she’d been too tired when he got back from work and didn’t want to get into a heated discussion. She didn’t want that now either, but as she’d opened the can of worms, she decided to let them spill.

‘Well, let’s see, might it be Melissa went missing from my party, I’m constantly having weird dreams … or could they be visions, me forgetting to feed my own baby, or you and Tiff going behind my back because you don’t trust me … Will that list do you, Brian? Take your pick of those, but they’re just for starters really.’

‘Ah.’ Brian wouldn’t look at her.

‘What – that’s it? Ah?’

‘I was worried. You needed some rest, so it made sense for Tiff to take him to the clinic.’

‘I was made to go to the appeal with Oliver, actually. I don’t call that rest.’

‘But you had afterwards to chill—’

‘That’s not the point.’ Louisa was totally awake now, adrenaline pumping around her body forcing her neurons to fire. ‘You went behind my back, Brian. That’s becoming a regular thing for you.’

‘You’re getting hysterical; I think it best we discuss this later. I’m going to get Noah. He will clearly need a feed. Can’t believe he isn’t screaming the house down if he hasn’t had milk all night.’

Louisa was about to take her level of supposed hysteria up a notch to show Brian just how hysterical she could get, but his observation stopped her in her tracks. It was unbelievable that Noah wasn’t screaming the house down. No feeds overnight, no nappy changes. That wasn’t right.

She swallowed hard, tears bubbled – she stared, wide-eyed, at Brian.

His face mirrored hers. He was thinking the same.

Neither of them moved for a fraction of a second, then both leapt from the bed. Brian reached Noah’s door first. Louisa hung back, her legs weak and shaking uncontrollably.

‘Why hasn’t he cried all night?’