By then, I had cleared a useful space for their visits.

I had not transformed the house into a second nursery without asking the parents.

Maya told me what was helpful and what they would bring.

I bought a few things that could be used here and kept the receipts in case the sizes were wrong.

We made tea after the girls were settled.

Maya held Chloe while Emma slept nearby.

She looked less exhausted than on the first morning, though tiredness still showed when the conversation paused.