I went back to the studio properly at eight weeks postpartum.
Not in the provisional Going way of the three-week visit, not checking and coming home. Properly, with my bag and my laptop and my full attention on the work. Joel stayed with the childminder, who he had met twice before and whose calm he responded to well. Ava was at nursery. Marcus was at his own office, having reorganized his schedule again to cover the morning handoffs.
The studio smelled like coffee and fresh paper and the specific quality of a creative workspace at full capacity, which was one of my favorite smells. Nine people looked up when I came in, and the look on each of their faces was different but the category was the same: welcome back.
Kezia said, "Joel's photograph is on the board. Marco put it up. We voted
