I roll my eyes and say a quick goodbye. One day soon I’m going to demand Mags brings this new woman of hers out into the open. It’s about time we got to know her.

*

The next few days pass in a contented haze. I visit Emma every afternoon and cuddle baby Leo as we chat. We avoid discussing the caesarean – it’s clear neither of us want to talk about it yet. Seeing Emma’s glowing face is enough for me to know that I can get through a caesarean or anything else that might be thrown my way. I can’t wait to hold my baby and I’m almost (I repeat, almost) excited about going into labour.

Most of my time is either spent at the garden centre, in the garden or floating in the sea to cool down. I’ve gone a little crazy with pots – I can’t stop buying them and filling them with lettuces and herbs. They’re starting to crowd my back deck, but I love how they look and smell – especially the lemon verbena. I’ve taken to pulling off a sprig and putting it in my morning cup of Earl Grey tea so I can inhale the aroma as I drink. I’ve also dug out two woody and scraggly lavender plants and replaced them with camellias. Then underplanted them with carpet thyme.

Elliot seems to have backed off, which is an unexpected though very welcome development. He’s sent me a couple of short text messages asking how I’m doing, but otherwise he’s been surprisingly distant. Not that I’m complaining. I’m assuming at some point we’ll have to sit down and talk things through. I don’t even want to think about the possibility of him asking for custody rights. Probably I should be speaking to a lawyer – the old Trish would have already had a document written and signed by all relevant parties by now. But I can’t seem to muster that old Trish anymore. This one is far easier and kinder to live with.

I’m surprised when it gets to Thursday afternoon and I realize I’m looking forward to the evening’s antenatal class. At our previous meeting, Margot organized for the soon-to-be mums to join a WhatsApp group chat and I’ve been enjoying the light banter and discussions. I’ve even joined in on occasion. They’re not such a bad lot. And it’s nice knowing there are others going through this pregnancy thing along with me.

Which is why when Mags turns up out of the blue and insists she come to the class, I’m not exactly thrilled.

“I’m happy going on my own. In some ways it’s easier than having another person there.”

“You can never have too much support, Trish.”

“I don’t know.”