‘It’s a little lassie an’ right bonny an’ all.’ Kathy glanced at David as she added almost apologetically, ‘I dare say it might be a lad next time.’

He hadn’t wanted a boy. He could think of nothing more perfect than a miniature Rose and he had told her so in the past. Knowing Kathy wouldn’t understand he just smiled and thanked the midwife for all she’d done before leaning down and kissing Rose again. ‘Our bairn, lass. She’s here at last and she’s beautiful.’ Like her mam.

‘She’s so perfect, Davey.’ Rose was cradling the baby close, staring into the tiny face with an expression of wonder. The baby had quietened immediately she’d been placed in her mother’s arms as though she was exactly where she wanted to be.

‘Aye, she is.’ David found he was fighting back the tears, emotion overwhelming him at the look on Rose’s face. Only the presence of Kathy stopped him breaking down. Nevertheless, his brown eyes were misty as he reached out and stroked the small downy head with the lightest of touches.

‘Well, I need to get you cleaned up and the bed sorted, lass. Give the babby to Davey.’ Kathy was back to her bossy self. ‘Take the bairn downstairs so I’ve got room to do the necessary,’ she added briskly to David as Rose handed the infant to him. ‘I can’t be falling over you up here.’

This time David made no protest, kissing Rose once more before he walked out of the bedroom, holding their precious bundle as though the baby was the finest Dresden china. Once in the kitchen, he sank down into his old comfy armchair to one side of the range, captivated by the little person staring at him with milky blue-grey eyes. Some of his pals at the shipyard who’d got bairns had warned him that they all looked like skinned rabbits when they were born, red and wrinkled and blotchy, but his daughter wasn’t like that. She was truly beautiful, he thought. One tiny hand, the fingers so delicate and the nails so minute he could scarcely believe they were real, reached out of the cocoon as the baby gave a big yawn, exposing little pink gums.