His mother returned after a few minutes and watched him affectionately from the doorway as his eyes closed and the bottle began to slip from his hands. She came in the room and gently tugged the nipple from his lips, taking the bottle from his grasp tenderly while whispering softly, “Sleep tight, precious. Momma loves you!”.

Once she was assured that her baby was in a sound sleep, she left his room soundlessly and closed the door.

Thomas woke to the sound of his mother saying, “Wake up, Tommy! Time for breakfast!” as she chucked him under his chin with her forefinger.