Dulce moved the sensor to get a good look at the baby’s body. ‘See the heartbeat, there? One hundred and forty-seven beats per minute.’

Jensen sucked in air and gripped my hand tighter. ‘That sounds very fast to me.’

She flashed him a smile. ‘It’s perfectly normal. I’ll take some measurements and then I can work out a due date, Lottie.’

She clicked and zoomed and muttered under her breath, Betsy did her best to work out what she was seeing and while no one was looking, Jensen pressed a kiss to my cheek.

‘Thanks for letting me see this. It’s so amazing. That …’ He nodded to the screen. ‘That’s in you. That little boy or girl is growing inside you.’

I swallowed the ball of emotion welling up in my throat.

‘Good grief,’ Betsy marvelled, elbowing Dulce out of the way to get closer to the monitor as the baby bucked and kicked. ‘Well, it’s definitely a boy; even I can make that out.’

Dulce’s shoulders shook as she let out a tiny giggle. ‘And there’s baby’s leg,’ she corrected gently.

‘Easy mistake.’ Betsy folded her arms, unfazed, and we all laughed.

Half an hour later, all the tests were complete. I’d had bloods taken, produced a urine sample (gladly) and paid for my scan photographs, one of which Betsy was still squinting over. I was fourteen weeks’ pregnant; my baby was due in February and was currently the size of a lemon and it might have been psychosomatic but, by the time we reached the car, Jensen reckoned that I’d already developed a bit of a waddle.

I climbed into the back, trying out an ‘oof’ sound as I sat down and turned on my phone. Jensen started the engine and drove us out of the car park as a text message from Evie pinged on to my screen:

Well how did it go? When will I be an auntie? IS IT TWINS???

Just one healthy baby. Due February 10. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.

So happy for you. Did you get a pic?

I sent a shot of the scan photo to her and she replied straight back.

Oh Lottie, so cute. I think he’s waving at me. Made me cry xxx

Me too. Even Jensen shed a tear.

Jensen and Lottie sitting in a tree …

Shut up

Actually Darren and I have news …

TELL ME

We’re adopting two boys …

The car swerved as Jensen and Betsy both whirled round at the sound of my gasp, which turned to a swoop of laughter as another picture appeared on my phone from Evie: two lovely grey and white dogs, tongues lolling and doleful brown eyes looking straight at the camera.