Darryl shakes his head as he chews. “The mind boggles,” he mumbles, sugar flying from his mouth.

We all end up eating a slice of the banana loaf before I take Scott out onto my back porch to view the garden. He seems impressed. Definitely makes the right noises.

“I bet you spend a lot of time sitting here in the sun,” he says. “I know I would.”

“Yeah, I do.”

He’s standing so close I can see his chest rising and falling.

“It sounds like they’re moving things,” I mutter.

“We should go and help.”

Scott’s voice is low and hoarse. Is it my imagination, or is he leaning towards me?

I step back, turn and hurry towards the spare room.

“Hang on, guys,” I call. “I haven’t worked out where to put things yet.”

*

“Well, I think it looks amazing,” says Lily.

She’s holding the ladder while Darryl attaches the last of the curtain hooks to the rail.

“More than amazing,” I say, a lump in my throat. “It’s better than I ever thought it would be, thanks to all of you.”

Mags is holding a wheel onto the bottom leg of the changing table while Emma screws it into place. Job done, they turn it upright and roll it into position next to the window.

“You’ll be able to distract yourself by looking at your garden while cleaning up baby poo,” says Mags enthusiastically.

Emma flops into the new chair in the corner. It was an impulse purchase from the designer furniture place on Stone Street. Emma insisted my number-one investment should be a comfortable chair in which to feed the baby. She looks tired as she rests her hands on her stomach. I shouldn’t have let her help out all day. She’s more pregnant than I am and I feel completely shattered. But the room is transformed and I love it.

Scott walks back in. He’s been breaking down the cardboard boxes the new baby gear came in and putting them in his boot, having offered to take them to the recycling centre.

“There’s some guy outside wanting to see you,” he says to me flatly.

“Who?” Lily asks.

Scott shrugs. “He didn’t offer up a name.”

I brush past him and out of the front door.

“Will!” I exclaim.

My brother’s standing by the letter box, looking uncomfortable.

“Hey,” he says, taking a couple of steps towards me. “I’m sorry just to turn up like this. I finished that job down the road and was heading home and thought I’d see if you were here.”

I wave him towards me. “Come in,” I say, strangely pleased to see him. “Sorry about not being able to see you and Tilly last time.”

Will hesitates, his eyes on something behind me.

“I don’t want to intrude…”

I glance back to see Scott leaning against the door frame scowling.