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“Come on, don’t make me go by myself. I’ve still got at least a couple of hours left of work to go today, and I could really do with some fresh air.”

“You’re more than capable of going out by yourself.”

“Yes, but what if I’m accosted by a band of beautiful women?”

Lucy threw him a withering look. “If you are, then I guess the baby and I will just have to manage without you.”

Dylan pulled a shocked face. “Don’t you listen to her, Little Plum. She doesn’t mean it. She knows how important it is for her to keep healthy.”

“That is terribly manipulative,” Lucy pointed out, fighting the urge to laugh.

“Please come with me, Lucy,” he said, suddenly sincere. “I need some fresh air and it’ll be more fun with you. I’ve been completely stuck on a piece of computer code all afternoon.”

“All right,” Lucy caved. “But half an hour, max.” She’d work on not giving in quite so easily to his begging another time.

“And then you can have a hot shower and relax,” Dylan promised. “And I’ll make you sausage and mash for dinner.”

“Deal.”

Lucy went upstairs and got bundled up in as much waterproof cold weather gear as she could; everything was noticeably tighter now, and there were already some clothes she couldn’t fit into. She’d need to buy a maternity coat fairly soon.

The weather was as bad as Lucy had predicted as they walked down the high street towards the beach, heads down against the wind and rain.

“I can’t believe you’re making me go out in this,” Lucy complained loudly, struggling to make herself heard over the wind.

“I’m not making you do anything,” Dylan pointed out.

“Coerced,” Lucy muttered.

They made it to the beach and by unspoken agreement continued down close to the water’s edge where they stood and watched the crashing waves.

Lucy’s coat was done up tightly — very tightly — and she had a scarf wrapped around her neck and a hat pulled down over her ears. With her gloved hands shoved in her pockets, she was doing her absolute best to keep warm and dry, but the weather had other ideas and seemed determined to make its way into every tiny gap it could. She was rapidly descending into what could only be described as an absolutely foul mood.

“I can’t wait to bring our baby down here,” Dylan commented.

“Hopefully the weather will be better when you do,” Lucy grumbled.

Dylan chuckled. “Ideally, yes.”

“Don’t you think having a baby with you will cramp your style?”

“Not at all,” he retorted. “I’ll finally have someone to spot sea monsters with me.”

“Sea monsters?” said Lucy, incredulously.

“Of course. I’m afraid if you can’t see them, you can’t come with us.”

Lucy gave a derisive snort.

“Oh, wow, look at that,” said Dylan suddenly, pointing out to sea.

“What?” Lucy said, staring at where he was indicating to.

“Don’t you see it?”

“See what?”

“Over there!”