I just gave my daughter Natalie a goodnight cuddle. She is 6 going on 16 and incredibly stubborn, independent, intelligent and often grumpy. She is also extremely perceptive and caring. She smelt of soap and shampoo and strawberries, and she was almost as soft and warm as the day she arrived in the world, with a curious frown like she couldn’t quite work out what she was doing here. She is one of the three reasons I’m fighting Genghis. I adore her. I could drink in her smell all night. She is beautiful and she is mine. Love love love love love.
