A voice behind me stops me in my slow plod towards the house and I let out a tiny sigh. I can see the hedge that masks our house from the road, the wonky chimney stack that sits atop our roof, the post of the small, wrought-iron gate that leads up the path to the front door. I turn, glancing into the pram as I do so, to make sure that cessation of movement hasn’t woken the baby.

‘I thought that was you. How are you feeling?’ Naomi pulls me into a hug, and I wince slightly as my back twinges. ‘Oh God. Sorry. Did I hurt you?’

‘No, just a twinge. I fell asleep at the kitchen table, believe it or not.’

‘Oh, you poor thing, no wonder you’re feeling stiff. Did you have a rough night?’ Naomi squeezes my shoulder in sympathy.

‘I just didn’t sleep too well, that’s all.’

Naomi’s face creases in concern. ‘You do look tired. I was coming to see you later, if that’s OK, just to catch up and see if you wanted anything. If you need to rest, I can look after Leo if you want to go to bed for an hour? I’m just on my way into the shop but we’re not too busy so I’ll be done by lunchtime.’

I feel a pang of envy at the image of Naomi standing in the florists where we both work, her nimble fingers twisting and tying wire around sprays of roses and chrysanthemums. I find myself missing the sweet scent of freesias and lavender, the cloying perfume of stargazer lilies, the earthy scent every time I step inside the shop. ‘That would be nice, to catch up I mean. You don’t need to look after the baby.’ I force a smile onto my face, the thought of an hour of uninterrupted sleep calling to me like a drug. What did I do? I shiver, the image of the gloomy, dark staircase of my dream rising in my mind and laying a blanket of dread over my shoulders.

‘Oops, somebody walked over your grave.’ Naomi frowns. ‘Are you sure you’re OK, Al?’

‘Yes, fine. Like I said, just tired.’

‘I suppose you want to get this little one back before he wakes up. I’ll walk up the road with you.’ I let Naomi lead the way, her arm bumping against mine as we walk and she chatters about the shop, the customers, the flowers.