'Tell us about when we were born, Mum.'

'Can we do it later? I'm a bit tired now and you need your tea. After bath-time?'

'What's for tea?'

'I don't know, Archie Gran's in charge. Probably anything you like.'

'Yess! Anything we like. I want a lobster. Cooked. With sauce.'

I think I'll leave Gran to sort that one out.

'Will you be coming downstairs later?'

'I'm not sure, Jack. Maybe not tonight. I'm a bit tired now.'

'But I've got a new reading book.'

'Come on, boys. Your gran's got a surprise for you. Let's leave your mum to have a rest. And your new sister. She's had a busy day too, you know.' Reg has already had a quick cuddle earlier, and seems tickled pink with his new granddaughter.

Archie nods.

'See you later, Pearly.'

I'm dozing when Gran comes up with the phone.

'It's Ellen. I thought you'd want to talk to her.'

'Thanks, Gran.'

'Hello, darling. God, you don't hang around, do you? What's that all about, giving birth on the floor? Christ. I can't believe you went for it at home.'

'I didn't have much choice in the matter, trust me.'

'How is she? And how are you? Was it awful?'

'She's perfect and it was completely terrifying, but weirdly okay as well. It was so quick I didn't have time to get totally freaked out. Thank God Martin was here.'

'Good old Dovetail I knew he'd come in handy. Have you called Daniel?'

'No. It's weird but it's right in a way that he doesn't know she's here. And if I call him it's like I want him to want to know, like it'll make a difference, which it won't.'

'You could always text him.'

'True.'

'You don't really care, do you?'

'No.'

'Good.'

'Now she's here the only thing that matters is that she's safe.'

'True. And you're okay, really?'

'Fine. And she's very clever. Already had two feeds.'

'What a surprise.'

'Are you implying she might take after her mother in the piglet department?'

'I think it's a pretty safe bet, darling. She certainly takes after her mother in the not-hanging-about department. Great name, by the way. I wonder who'll be the first person to buy her pearls? Actually, why don't I do that, as my first godmotherly thing?'

'That would be lovely, Ellen.'

'Your gran said she's Mary Pearl, yes? Sweet.'

'The boys are already calling her Pearly. I'll have to sew pearl buttons on her coat and get her a tambourine.'

Ellen laughs.

'I'm so sorry I wasn't there, sweetheart. You must have been so frightened. Not that I'd have helped much. I'd probably have been totally hysterical, but still. You're amazing. You know that, don't you? And I'll be there first thing tomorrow. I'll get her loads of girly stuff. I thought that could be my new role, Fairy Shopping Godmother. Because let's face it, darling, someone's got to teach her how to shop. Anything you need?'

'Twelve hours' sleep.'

Gran's holding court downstairs, with Betty making tea and popping up on tiptoe with tasty snacks, and standing looking at the baby with a huge grin on her face. Elsie burst into tears, and so did Connie, and there's been a steady stream of visitors by the sound of the knocking on the door, but Gran's not letting many of them up until tomorrow, and I'm too tired to argue.

And anyway, the only person I really want to see her, now the boys and Gran have seen her, the person I most want to show her to in the whole world is Nick. Which is daft. But I know how knocked out he'd be with her looking so like Jack, and he'd hold her, like he held the boys when they were tiny, and he'd sing to her, in that deep voice they used to love so much. 'Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do.'

Damn. I'm definitely crying now. The hormonal maelstrom is definitely kicking off, and it's completely ridiculous, but I want him here, just for a little while, so he can see her, just once. She's my bonus baby, the one I never thought I'd have. And what's really odd is how she feels far more related to him than Daniel. She's ours. Part of our family. The moment I saw her, I recognised her, like I'd known her for ages. And I want him to see her, because I know he'd recognise her too. It's like magic.

Martin's sitting by the bed when I wake up, holding Pearl.

'Your gran said it was okay.'

'Of course.'

'She started waving her hands, so we picked her up. Was that all right? Your gran said I should just sit and hold her.'

'It's fine, Martin.'

'She's so tiny. And so beautiful. So how are you feeling now?'

'Completely exhausted. Actually, beyond completely; it's almost scary.'

'I'm not surprised. It's so like you.'

'What is?'

'To just get on with it. You're extraordinary.'

'I think that poor ambulance man might feel differently. I bet he'll have his arm in a sling tomorrow.'

'Your gran's in seventh heaven. She was showing me all the flowers. It's like a florist's downstairs; why haven't you got any up here?'

'Gran thinks flowers suck the air out of a room.'

'Do they?'

'Not as far as I know. Although maybe that's why most film stars are usually so daft. Too many flowers.'

He laughs.

'It would explain a lot. The boys seem pretty chuffed too. Archie's been telling me he's got a new baby so he might not go to school tomorrow.'

'Right.'

'I've fixed the back door, by the way.'

'Thanks, Martin.'

'So, have you called him?'

'Who? Oh, sorry. No, not yet. He knows the baby's due around now, and he's got my number.'

He smiles.

'Well, I'd better be off. I just wanted to make sure you were both okay. I might pop back later on, if that's all right? I've got something I want to bring round.'

'Of course. We'd both love to see you.'

He's whistling as he goes downstairs.

The midwife comes back, and then Connie, followed by the boys with their reading books.

'Mum?'

'Yes, Archie?'

'When Pearly gets bigger, who do you think she'll like best, me or Jack?'

'She'll love you both the same, because you're her big brothers.'

'And who do you love the best?'

'All three of you.'

He nods.

'So all the love you have gets shared out between all of us?'

In other words his half-share in the maternal devotion stakes has just gone down to a third.

'Actually, it's better than that, Archie. You don't share it out, you just get more. When Jack was born I loved him millions, and then when you were born I loved you millions too, and now we've got Pearl it's happened again. Isn't that clever?'

He smiles.

'It's millions to the moon and back again.'

'Yes, that's right.'

Jack nods.

'But she'll have her own toys.'

'Yes, love, she will.'

'We can share sometimes. But not all the time.'

'Okay.'

Archie giggles.

'We probably won't want to share her pink girly stuff.'

'She might not be a pink girly girl, Archie. Not all girls are.'

All three of us look at her.

She's on my lap, half-asleep, head to toe in pink. Gran changed her earlier and put her in the pale-pink Babygro Connie brought.

He tuts.

'Well, if she's not, she's going to be very cross when she sees all her clothes.'

Gran comes up with Martin, who's carrying what looks like a small sideboard.

'I thought I'd have a few more days to get it finished, before you came out of hospital.'

It's a crib, a beautiful old-fashioned crib that rocks gently from side to side when you push it. The boys are very impressed.

'I measured the Moses basket with your gran, ages ago, so it should fit. Shall we try it?'

The Moses basket fits inside perfectly.

'Isn't that lovely, pet?'

'It's great, Martin. Thank you so much.'