That she would have sold every single piece of furniture in that nursery if it came to it, without a second thought.

That she would have taken a second job.

That she would have worked nights, worked weekends, given up the house, given up almost anything they owned.

That there was no hardship, no debt, no amount of money, that she would not have faced down at his side, gladly, if he had only let her.

But there was one thing — she said, and here her voice cracked completely — there was one thing she would never, under any circumstances, for any reason on this earth, have sacrificed.

And that was their daughter.