You’d gone with Alex to meet his newborn niece - and to help his sister out while she got some rest. She was asleep upstairs, while Alex cradled her newborn in his arms.

The TV was on quietly, which he was, in theory, watching. But he was mostly looking at the tiny baby in his arms.

… It didn’t take him long to notice you staring. It made him grin a little bit. “What? Why you lookin’ at me like that? You wanna hold her?”