I follow Rav into the house, eager to get out of the chill of the shade cast by the trees. How did I not realize the sun had gone down? What if the baby gets a cold? Pneumonia? A knot of anxiety builds in my chest as I picture him still and blue, his breath rasping in his chest, and I have to force it down, smiling at Rav as he climbs the stairs with Mina. A few moments later I hear the creak of the old bathroom tap and water starts to thunder into the chipped enamel bath.

The baby fusses and I lay him in his Moses basket, tucking him in tightly even though he has warmed up now, making small shushing noises in the hopes that he will fall back to sleep, just for a few moments so I can make Mina some dinner. His eyes grow heavy, and I lay my hand gently on his tiny chest, about to creep away when I hear it. A scratching noise. Cocking my head on one side I strain my ears, trying to figure out where it is coming from, but there is only silence. Maybe I imagined it? I take a small backwards step away from the baby, ready to turn towards the kitchen when I hear it again, a faint scratch scratch scratch like a pencil on a board. The baby’s eyes fly open and I think, no, I didn’t imagine it. The baby heard it too. My legs feel wobbly as I step back towards the Moses basket, holding my breath. Scratch, scratch, scratch. It’s coming from the chimney. Without waiting to hear if the noise comes again, I scoop up the baby and hurry up the stairs to Rav.

Chapter Six

‘And how are you sleeping?’ The health visitor at the baby clinic doesn’t look at me as she speaks, concentrating on laying the baby gently into the large weighing scale on the table in front of her.

‘Fine,’ I say, as a yawn pulls at the back of my throat. The baby pumps his fist as the health visitor logs his weight and then tells me I can pick him up.

‘Lovely healthy boy,’ she says, finally looking at me with a grin. ‘You didn’t need to bring him in just yet though. Has your midwife discharged you?’