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He puts his arm around her. “It’s amazing,” he says softly. “Thank you.” The last ounce of resentment has vanished from his eyes.

“They’re lovely gifts,” Mum tells me. “Well done.”

One of the babies—Liam, I think, because he’s wearing red—stirs in the cot, waving his tiny fists in the air.

“Can I pick him up?” I ask, and Catie wipes her eyes and nods..

“Of course.”

I lift the baby out and walk beneath the umbrella so he doesn’t have the sun in his eyes.

“Hey, little fella,” I murmur, and he looks up at me with his big blue eyes. He smells sweet, of milk and talcum powder, and when I stroke his cheek with a finger, he grabs it and tries to suck it. I chuckle and look at Saxon, who’s watching me with a smile.

I feel a huge swell of relief. It’s the first step to putting things right with the people I love, and it feels damn good.

I just hope I can do something similar with Craig and Alice.

*

I stay for another hour, drinking my coffee and chatting to my family. Then, just before midday,