By eleven o’clock my eyelids were fluttering with sleepiness. Jensen and I were curled up together on the sofa, my cheek nestled into his chest, his hand resting casually on my hip. Jason Mraz was crooning a love song to us from the sound system and the night had become very mellow.

‘You know,’ Jensen began, his voice barely more than a whisper, ‘if you didn’t want me to accept this new job, I’d turn it down.’

I sat up, shocked. ‘I’d never put you in that position; I’m not going to be the one to keep you from achieving your goals.’

He twirled a lock of my hair through his fingers and took a deep breath. ‘There’s something I haven’t mentioned yet. I wouldn’t be entitled to any leave for six months, other than a couple of days at Christmas. It’s part of the deal and non-negotiable. By the time I’d be able to come back, you’ll have had the baby.’

A pang of sadness hit me and I nodded in agreement, not daring to speak. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him how I felt about him, that I cared about him more deeply than I’d ever done for anyone else, that in a perfect world I’d like him to be there at my side holding my hand at the moment when this baby made its way into the world. That the thought of not seeing him for so long was too awful to contemplate. But I couldn’t do that to him. I remembered Dad’s words only a couple of hours or so ago, how he’d felt guilty for holding me back. I didn’t want that same burden. If Jensen wanted to go, he should go. He deserved this promotion and there’d be no pressure from me either way.

‘Lottie, I know it’s early days, you and me, and maybe you’ll think I’m crazy to be even thinking this far ahead,’ he hesitated and took my hand, bringing it to his lips, ‘but I’d been planning to say that if you needed anyone around, you know, when the baby comes, I can be there. I’d like to be there.’

I stared at him. ‘What exactly are you offering?’

‘To take you to hospital, carry your bag, keep your spirits up.’ He grinned bashfully. ‘And be nothing like a second doctor at all. But only if you thought it was appropriate and there was no one else you’d rather have at your side.’