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“She’s going to be so spoilt.” Lucy mock-despaired.

“Yep,” Dylan replied, happily.

“Shall we go home now?” Lucy asked.

“I think that’s a very good idea.”

They headed out into the cold with Lucy holding on to Dylan’s arm.

“How are you doing?” he asked as he started the car.

“Relieved,” Lucy said. “My heart’s still thumping away like crazy though. That was terrifying.”

“It was,” he agreed. “But everything’s fine.”

“Yes,” Lucy said. “Everything’s fine.”

Dylan drove out of the car park and joined the main road.

“Thanks for driving me,” Lucy said. “I really wasn’t in any state to have driven myself.”

“Of course I drove you,” Dylan said. “Luce, when are you going to understand that I’m here for you? You’re stuck with me. You’re carrying our baby. Our baby girl.”

Lucy felt her heart leap at his words, then fall at the reminder that she was only stuck with him because she was pregnant. But that wasn’t what was important right now.

“A girl . . .” she mused, focusing on her baby. “Poppy will be thrilled. I’m not sure she’s too impressed to be getting a brother.”

“She’ll fall in love with him as soon as he’s born,” Dylan said.

“Oh my goodness!” Carrie said. “Carrie and Michael! I completely forgot! We’re late.”

“They’ll understand,” Dylan reassured her.

“I’ll let them know what’s going on,” Lucy said. “I left my phone at home.”

“Mine’s in my coat pocket,” said Dylan lifting up his left elbow to show her which pocket to search in. “Use that.”

“Are you sure?” said Lucy, gingerly reaching into his pocket and pulling out his mobile.

“Sure, the passcode’s my birthday.”

“Seriously? That’s not very secure. I thought you were into cybersecurity?” Lucy said as she typed in the numbers. “What?” she asked, spotting the grin that had appeared on Dylan’s face.

“You know my birthday,” he said.

Lucy rolled her eyes. “I have a good memory. Someone must have told me it.”

She ignored his continued delight. “You’re certain I’m not going to stumble upon any unsavoury messages in here?”

“I’m sure,” said Dylan.

“You’ve got a missed call from Michael and a couple of messages.”

“Do you still want to go over there?”

“Not really,” Lucy admitted. “I’m still feeling a bit wobbly and not really like being around people. I know it’s friends but—”

“I get it, that’s fine. Why don’t you just message and let them know what happened, and that we’ll see them tomorrow?”