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Adam grabbed her waist to stop her running. ‘Izzy, Mummy is gone. Only the machines were keeping her alive, but even they can’t save her now.’

Izzy saw Angela standing in the corner. ‘Is it true?’

‘Yes, pet, it is. Your mummy is gone.’

‘For ever?’

Angela nodded, biting her lip to hold back the tears.

‘But – but it’s my special day.’

‘I know, Izzy,’ Adam choked back tears, ‘and I’m here for you. I’ll do everything I can to make it better.’

Izzy looked at him, a little crease in the middle of her forehead. ‘You can’t make it better. No one can make it better. Mummy is gone. My mummy is gone. I … Who’s going to look after me?’ Izzy’s eyes were wild with fear. ‘Who’s going to wash my hair and make my lunch and bake with me and watch movies with me and hug me and sing me songs and read me bedtime stories and – and …’ She sank to the floor, legs straight out, her dress spread around her, like a doll’s.

Adam sat beside her and put his arms around her. ‘I will. I will do all those things.’

‘But you’re always working.’

‘I’m not going to work so much any more. I’m going to be home to look after you. I’ll learn to cook and do your hair, and I’ll do all the things that Mummy did. We can do this together. I’m here for you, Izzy. Daddy’s here.’

‘But I want Mummy,’ Izzy sobbed.

‘I know you do.’

‘She’s my special person.’

‘She was mine too.’

‘Everyone has a mummy.’

‘Actually …’ Rob walked down the corridor carrying two coffees. He set them down and knelt beside Izzy and Adam. ‘… your dad and I had no mummy. Our mummy died when we were very small. We were very sad in the beginning, but we were OK.’

Izzy sniffed. ‘Did you have a good daddy?’

Rob put his hand on Adam’s shoulder. ‘Not even close to as good as your daddy is. Your daddy loves you enough for two people and more.’

‘Mummy said she loved me more than the whole world.’ Izzy bunched her fists against her eyes.

‘She did,’ Adam said, ‘but she’s still with you, Izzy. She’s here.’ He touched Izzy’s heart. ‘She will always be in your heart. She is you and you are her.’

‘And you’ve got so many people who love you and want to help look after you, like Riley and Mia and Johnny and Granddad and me and Ellen,’ Rob said.

‘But they’re not Mummy.’

‘No one is as special as your mummy. But we’ll all help you through this. You and your daddy,’ Rob said, touching Izzy’s cheek.

Izzy looked up wearily at Adam. ‘I’m tired, Daddy. Can we go home?’

‘Yes, we can. Maybe you’d like to look at photos and videos of Mummy in the car. Remember the fun times.’

Izzy nodded and took his phone.

On the way home, Rob drove in silence while Izzy and Adam sat in the back together, watching videos of Sarah – alive, vibrant, beautiful, loving and laughing. Adam felt Izzy’s body relax. She even managed a little laugh at the video of Sarah trying to do cartwheels with her on the beach.

Maybe they would get through this, maybe …

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