‘Naomi?’ I call again, and swivel on my heel as a clatter comes from the kitchen. I trip over Rav’s trainers left lying in the hallway as I fly along the passageway to the kitchen, the ancient quarry tiles slippery and cool beneath my bare feet. As I reach the kitchen door I slow, one hand pressed against my chest.

‘God, Allie, are you all right? What’s wrong?’ Naomi sits at the kitchen table, her mouth a perfect O of shock, as the baby still snoozes contentedly in her arms and Mina draws a picture using a packet of fresh, unbroken crayons that Naomi must have brought with her.

‘I thought …’ I let out a wheeze that could be mistaken for laughter. ‘I thought you were gone. I woke up and looked at the clock and I’d been asleep for ages. I couldn’t hear anyone …’ I enter the room fully, stooping to kiss Mina on the head, wanting to pull her close and squeeze her tightly. Almost as if the sound of my voice has reminded him that he hasn’t fed for hours, the baby stirs and makes a mewling cry and I feel a tingle as my milk comes in.

‘Let me take him,’ I say, as Naomi fusses with him, trying to calm him. ‘He needs feeding.’

‘Oh, of course he does,’ Naomi says in a baby voice, but to the baby, not me, and she hands him over. His face is hot and crumpled from being pressed against her arm. ‘Here, Leo, go to your mum.’

I take him, his tiny Babygro feeling damp against my skin where he has got hot in Naomi’s arms. I expect her to pick up her bag, eager to get back to the shop but she settles back into the chair opposite, watching me. ‘Sorry I slept for so long. I must have needed it. If you have to head off, I understand, you were only supposed to pop in for an hour.’

Naomi shakes her head and her mouth turns down in what is a now familiar gesture. ‘No, no. Nothing to rush back for.’ She pushes a huff of air out from between her lips, a sad attempt at a laugh.

‘Oh, Naomi.’ Leaning forward I reach for her hand. ‘I’m sorry, I’m so selfish. I just dumped the kids on you and didn’t even ask how you were.’

‘Pah.’ Naomi shakes her head. ‘It’s fine. I’m fine.’ But her eyes fill with tears and she blinks them away rapidly, so I pretend I haven’t noticed. Naomi used to laugh all the time, one of those girls who was always fun, upbeat, always knew the right thing to say to make others feel better. Until Jason broke her heart.

‘Have you heard from him?’ I ask gently. It’s been almost a year, but Naomi hasn’t met anyone else, hasn’t moved on at all.