When I get back to my room, I find Sebastian, his wife Carol, and little baby James waiting for me.
My mood improves immediately, although not by much, and I smile gratefully at them.
Sebastian hunkers down and gives me a heartfelt hug, which I return heartily, breathing in his familiar smell. Hugging him feels like home but in a brotherly way.
If anyone had ever told me that I would come to think of Sebastian as a ‘brother’ some three years ago, I would have laughed their face off.
I glance at Carol to see if she’s uncomfortable with this display of emotion that her husband is giving me, but she clearly isn’t.
I wonder how refreshing it must be to be so sure of your partner. She’s beaming at me and waiting her turn to give me a hug, which I gladly accept.
They then place baby J
