I nod and smile in reassurance as the poor guy clearly needs it, but my smile converts to a grimace as another contraction hits.

“Bloody hell,” I exclaim, putting my hand against the wall.

Scott knows without asking that I need to be on my hands and knees. He helps me down to the carpet, rubs my lower back and checks his phone.

“Six minutes since the last one,” he says.

I’m trying to remember the breathing techniques Margot taught us at the antenatal class I went to with Mags, but for the life of me I can’t recall a thing.

There’s a pounding on my front door.

“Trish,” calls Lily.

“It’s unlocked,” Scott yells.

The door slams open and Lily comes hurtling through.

“Fuck!” she says, running over and crouching beside me. She gently lifts my curtain of blonde hair – already damp with sweat – from my face and drapes it down my back. “I love you, Trish,” she murmurs, “but I’m not prepared to watch a baby covered in bodily fluids exit your vagina and I’m confident Scott feels the same way, so you need to keep the little so-and-so inside till we get you to the hospital, OK?”

All I can do by way of reply is groan loudly, my fingernails clinging to the carpet.

Scott stops rubbing my back.

“Keep going,” I shout, and his rub vigorously resumes.

Lily puts a hand over mine and squeezes. She doesn’t stop squeezing until the contraction releases me and I slump sideways onto my hip.

“That was fun,” I mutter, giving them both a small smile.

“Looked like it,” mutters Lily.

She has the most terrified expression on her face I’ve ever seen.

“I need to stand.”

They both help me to my feet and I’m about to suggest they both sit down and take a few deep breaths, when I hear a stampede of feet and Mags and Emma fly through the door.

“Trish,” Mags exclaims, tears in her eyes. She throws her arms around me. “This is it! You’re actually having a baby.”

“What did you think was growing in her belly for the past few months?” asks Lily. “A bloody tapeworm?”

Scott snorts and covers his mouth. “Sorry.”

Mags lets go of me and I look at Emma.

“You all right?” Emma asks softly.

I nod and swallow over the sudden lump in my throat.

She gives me a small smile, then kisses me on the cheek. “You got this,” she whispers.

I take a deep breath and slowly let it out. “So,” I say, glancing around at all the faces staring at me. “This is awkward.”

Scott clears his throat. “I’ll go,” he says. “Since the cavalry has arrived.”

He’s read my mind. Now my friends are here, I need Scott gone before things deteriorate and I start leaking fluids or screaming or something worse I haven’t even read about yet.