Rosie boogied into the hospital room holding a blue teddy bear with a helium balloon tied around its neck and an armful of cream roses. She dumped everything on a table, washed and dried her hands.
She wiggled her fingers. "Gimme."
Bronte sat in bed with a dark haired baby nestled in her arms and a beaming smile on her face. Nico looked out of the window and caught his wife's eye over his shoulder.
"Oh, look at him, isn't he gorgeous?" Rosie took the baby carefully from Bronte, her eyes damp and misty. "Hello, Luca darling." She touched his perfect tiny fingers.
"And meet Sophia." Nico turned round with another baby, smaller than her brother, but with a head of ash blonde hair.
Rosie's jaw hit the floor as Alexander arrived with a pink teddy and balloon. "I don't believe it, how did you keep this a secret from me?"
Bronte pulled up her knees. Three days after a caesarean delivery, she still felt fragile.
"Probably because we've been living at Lake Como and you've been running Sweet Sensation. Oh, don't make me laugh. It's the first time I've ever seen you speechless."
Rosie shook her head in mock disgust and beaned Alexander with a jaundiced eye.
"Let this be a lesson to you. Look what happens in this family when you have unprotected sex."