She looked down at the little girl sleeping in her arms. ‘You’ve already given me the best,’ she said.

He nodded. ‘Yes, this is as good as it gets.’

Suddenly she chuckled.

‘What?’ he demanded, looking around. ‘What?’

‘It’s that bright red shirt you’re wearing. It’s so un-you. You’re usually so sober-suited.’

‘On the contrary, this is the real me. The suit is a uniform, although sometimes it gets to feel like a second skin.’

‘So the truth is that you’re a bit of a devil?’ she teased.

He winked. ‘You know more about that than anyone.’

He shifted position to get closer to her, but then something that came into view made him leap to his feet.

‘Bobby, not so near the water. Come back here.’

He dashed over and scooped up the five-year-old child, who chuckled with delight as his father carried him back to the picnic.

‘Whadaya mean by giving your old man a heart attack, eh?’ he demanded as he sat down beside his wife. ‘What’s the big idea?’

As he joked he buried his face against the child, who screamed with laughter.

‘Don’t scare him,’ the woman protested.

‘He’s not scared of me. He’s my boy. Aren’t you?’

‘Yes,’ said the little boy firmly, putting his arms around his father’s neck.

The man turned his head to smile at the woman. ‘Do you have any idea how much I love you?’ he whispered.

She gave a soft laugh. ‘Not a clue. You’ll have to tell me.’

He leaned sideways to kiss her, and she leaned towards him. It was awkward because they were each holding a child, but they managed somehow between love and laughter. And the little boy in his father’s arms went contentedly to sleep.

Alex awoke with a start and found that he was already sitting up. The dream had been so clear, like being taken back four years to relive the moment.

He’d seen it all again-the trees, the water, the sun. More than that, he’d felt again the blissful contentment of that day.