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watching TV, isn’t she?’ Jennifer said, instantly wishing she had engaged her brain before her mouth.
    Amy rolled her eyes. ‘If you’ve come around here to criticise my parenting skills, you can leave now.’
    ‘Blimey. It’s only been ten minutes,’ Jennifer said, ‘I’m due another twenty minutes yet!’
    Amy creased her forehead, ‘What are you on about?’
    ‘Nothing. Where’s David?’ Jennifer asked, noticing that Amy’s husband appeared to have vacated the building.
    Amy tried running her fingers through her hair, but they stuck in something halfway through. ‘He’s gone down the pub. Got fed up of watching Teletubbies .’
    Jennifer’s voice softened. ‘You look shattered. Why don’t you let me watch these two while you have a nice hot bath?’
    Amy looked at her sister doubtfully. ’I suppose I could have a quick shower if you’re offering. Lily’s been fed, just don’t shake her, or she’ll throw up on you like before.’
    There was no fear of that; the last thing Jennifer wanted was baby vomit all over her Karen Millen suit. Not to mention her shoes. Jennifer stared at the ragged bunny slippers gracing Amy’s feet. ‘You should let me take you shopping, buy you some nice new clothes.’
    Amy gave a cynical laugh and jabbed her finger to her chest. ‘Look at me, I’m two stones overweight, I’ve got two kids, and as you said, I look like shit. What’s the point?’ She marched out the door before Jennifer could reply.
    Jennifer hated seeing her sister so upset, but everything she said came out wrong.
    Joshua tugged at her sleeve, holding a picture. ‘I drew this for you, Jenny.’
    She examined the drawing. It consisted of a skinny woman in a black dress wearing spiky shoes and carrying a handbag. A yellow moon nestled in a night sky clouded with black blobs and intermittent stars. ‘That’s lovely, is that me?’
    ‘Yes,’ Joshua said proudly, his dimples melting her heart. Funny how they were the only ones in the family to have them. ‘And is that my shadow?’ Jennifer said, pointing to a black figure behind her.
    Joshua’s face clouded over as he frowned. ‘No, that’s the bad man.’
    ‘Is that one of the baddies Auntie Jennifer is putting in jail?’ Joshua was slowly beginning to understand the concept of her job.
    ‘No,’ Joshua said, shoving a handful of buttons into his mouth.
    Lily’s cries shrilled as the programme ended. Her little fingers were balled into tight fists, and her face grew redder with each wail. Jennifer looked at Joshua. ‘Do you know how to put on another one?’ she asked, forgetting her parental advice to Amy earlier. Joshua shrugged and stood over Lily, waggling his finger. ‘Naughty Lily, be quiet for Auntie Jenny.’
    Jennifer grabbed the TV remote, but the programme would not restart. The noise of Lily’s screaming was deafening. She slipped off her shoes and putting them aside, took off her jacket and grabbed a towel from the arm of the sofa. ‘Shush Lily, shh.’ Slowly reaching under the warmth of her body, she lifted Lily from the basket and cradled her on the sofa. The crying continued, and she stood up, pacing the floor. Minutes felt like hours as she paced up and down, cradling the screaming baby. ‘She needs to burp,’ Joshua pointed out.
    Jennifer threw the towel over her shoulder and raised the baby, who gave an enormous burp. ‘Well done Josh, you’re a clever boy, aren’t you?’
    ‘That’s what Mummy does,’ he said, smugly, a dribble of chocolate creeping down his chin.
    Jennifer found a dummy and slipped it into Lily’s pink mouth. She sucked greedily, and after a few seconds relaxed in her arms and drifted off to sleep. Jennifer kissed her forehead before placing her gently in the basket. Putting her finger to her lips, she gestured to Joshua, who wiped a sleeve over his mouth.
    Amy came downstairs, pink and fresh from her shower, towel drying her damp hair. ‘Sorry for snapping, I know you’re only trying