I feel my shoulders rise up towards my ears, tension creeping back in as I will Naomi to stay quiet, for the baby to sleep for just a little while longer. Naomi rocks him gently and he seems to settle again.

‘Are you busy at work?’ Talking of the Flower Moon, thinking of the shop makes me want to catch up on everything. ‘I miss it, you know.’ The summer months are my favourite, the busiest time of year. I wake up early for the markets and stay in the shop long after others have all gone home, working my way through bridal bouquets, buttonholes, funeral arrangements, declarations of love all tied up in ribbon and ferns.

‘So busy, you wouldn’t believe it.’ Naomi rolls her eyes, ‘I’d much rather be at home with a baby.’ Her face clouds over and she shifts the baby up onto her shoulder, resting her cheek against his tiny head. ‘Enjoy this time at home with him. You’ll be back in the shop before you know it.’

There is something sharp in her tone, her words stinging a little and I want to tell her that I am enjoying it – trying to anyway – but that she doesn’t understand how becoming a mother strips away a part of your identity. I can never say those words to her. Instead, I change the subject slightly. ‘Are you sure you can spare the time to come and visit me? Don’t forget I know how rushed off our feet we are at this time of year, so if you’re too busy, don’t feel you have to come over.’ Even as I say the words, I don’t mean it. I’ve loved having some adult company and being with Naomi reminds me of the old me, the pre-baby me.

Naomi looks down, her finger dabbing at crumbs from the tart on the table. ‘It’s fine. We’ve … they’ve taken someone else on to help out while you’re off.’

‘Oh.’ I sit back in my chair, the spindles on the back digging into my spine. ‘Oh, well of course they would. They can’t be a man down during the summer, it’s not practical.’ There is a sharp twist in my chest at the idea of someone else opening up, someone else drinking tea out of my mug, or using my pliers, and I shake it away, feeling silly.

‘Listen’ – Naomi leans forward, her cheeks flushing, and I wince waiting for the baby to stir – ‘why don’t I take Mina out for a bit this afternoon? I could take her to the park, and you could sleep for a bit while Leo naps. I can put him in his Moses basket now, and I’ll take Mina for an ice cream. No offence, Al, but you look like shit. You must be exhausted. I know all this stuff about someone in the woods has upset you.’