‘So how are you enjoying being a mum, Stina?’ Sylvia had joined me in the kitchen later after dinner, as I washed up the plates. I could feel her eyes boring into the back of my head, as though she were watching my every move. Jack and Harry were in the living room, absorbed in conversation about the merits of different types of animal feed. I think Jack would have liked to take over the farm, but I was secretly glad that he hadn’t. Farming seemed to require even more of a person’s life than being a vet – at least he could take a day off now and again, even if he did work long hours.

‘I’m totally in love,’ I confessed, drying my hands. ‘Elodie’s adorable. I never thought I could feel so protective – it’s quite overwhelming, actually.’

‘Just you wait until she’s older – when you have to let her go out without you. Nothing really prepares you for the worry. I still fret now. Even though the lads are two big brutes, they’re still my babies.’ She smiled. ‘The kind of things that concern you when they’re small pale into insignificance – at least you can tuck them in at night and know they’re safe and warm. When you have to let them go out into the big wide world, you’re in a constant state of anxiety.’ She sighed. ‘Oh, you’ve got it all to come.’

Her tactless words did nothing to reassure me. I thought of my beautiful Elodie, and then of poor Reggie’s fate, and a sudden feeling of dread crept through me. I didn’t want to contemplate the dangers of the wider world as my daughter grew. It was more than enough to worry about the needs of a tiny baby for the time being.

She continued, oblivious. ‘We couldn’t be prouder of Jack, you know. He’s worked so hard to get where he is today. And you have to be pretty clever to become a vet, I can tell you. Our Matt’s doing a great job of running the farm, too. It was hard for Harry to let go, but he can sleep easy at night. We’ve been so fortunate to have such capable, hard-working sons.’

I wasn’t sure how to respond. I thought of Lucy’s Eddie. ‘Yes, there are plenty of wasters out there.’

‘Oh dear, did you have a bad experience before you met Jack, then?’

‘No, nothing like that – it’s just that I’ve got a friend whose husband doesn’t seem to take his responsibilities very seriously. He pretty much leaves her to get on with everything, too, and she’s got a toddler and a new baby. It puts things into perspective, when you see what some people have to put up with.’