The Advent calendar had chocolates behind every door, and Dr. Hunter said, “Let’s put it up in the kitchen and you can open a door every day and have the chocolate.” Which is what Reggie did, what she was doing now, holding the melting Santa-shaped chocolate in her cheek to extend its life while she dipped the baby’s Bunnykins dishes in the sink, squirting Ecover washing-up liquid into the hot water.

