‘No, honey.

We’re not missing anybody to count as a family.

We can love other people and welcome them into our lives, but you and I are already a family.’ She nodded and went to play.

I watched her climb onto a low wall beside another little girl and show her how Bunny could balance on his nose.

On the way home she talked about the new friend she’d made.

Then she asked whether that friend could come to our house next Saturday.