When the professionals judged the children ready, we introduced them to Archer at a supervised family picnic.

He was shy at first and held Sloane’s hand.

Then Oliver offered him a toy truck, and within minutes all four children were arguing cheerfully about whose turn it was to push it down a slope.

Wren announced that Archer could be her little brother even if he didn’t like daisies.

Archer said that he preferred stones.

Wren accepted this as a reasonable difference of opinion.

Callum watched from a blanket, his eyes shining.