I opened the fridge, took out a bottle of sparkling water and offered him some.

‘Yes please. Look, there are worse things than being brought up without two parents, you know.’ He pointed to himself and flopped down on the sofa. ‘Better to have one who loves you than two whose relationship turns the air at home toxic. Case in point.’

‘I know,’ I said wearily. I sat beside him and handed him a glass. ‘It’s just …’ My throat felt tight and suddenly I couldn’t get the words out.

He placed a hand gently on my shoulder. ‘What’s wrong?’ he murmured.

‘I just didn’t think I’d be going through this alone, that’s all.’ My throat was burning and from nowhere my eyes filled with tears.

‘Hey, don’t get upset.’ He looked at me, alarmed.

‘Ignore me,’ I said, blinking rapidly. ‘Raging hormones. I’m being pathetic.’

‘Would you like a hug?’

His dark blue eyes radiated warmth and concern and it was all I could do not to dive on him.

‘Very much,’ I managed to croak.

He took my drink from me, placed both glasses on the coffee table and gently wrapped his arms around me. Gradually I felt my body relax into his embrace, relishing the comfort of another human being. It felt like an eternity since I’d been held and I wanted this feeling to go on for ever.

‘You aren’t alone.’ His voice was soft and his lips brushed against my hair.

‘But I am,’ I argued, my tears making a wet patch on the collar of his shirt. ‘It’s my scan on Friday. I keep imagining that scene you see in films, where the mother sees her baby for the first time and the father squeezes her hand and they gasp in wonder and both whisper “hello, baby” to the screen and the dad gets a photo of the scan and shows it to all his friends.’

‘Blimey,’ said Jensen, ‘you do imagine things in a lot of detail.’

‘I suppose I do.’ Despite my sadness, his tone made me giggle. ‘But instead it will just be me, and the sonographer will glance discreetly at the door to check no one else is coming in and then give me a sympathetic smile.’

‘Or—’ He stopped abruptly as if holding himself in check.

‘Or what?’

Jensen cleared his throat. ‘Or I could come with you, hold your hand and say “hello, baby”. If you like?’

I flicked at my tears and stared at him. ‘You’d do that? You’d have time off work and come to the hospital with me?’

‘Just call me your second doctor.’ He grinned. ‘Course I’ll do it, it’s no biggie.’

‘It’s big to me.’ I kissed his cheek. ‘Thank you so much. But if it’s okay with you, I’m going to have one last bash at my sister.’

‘Sure.’ He smiled. ‘Good plan.’