‘I can imagine,’ she said kindly. ‘So what time will we be expecting you then?’

There was a horrified silence for a moment, then an awkward-sounding ‘Ahh . . .’

‘I’m kidding,’ she laughed, before remembering that he was probably stunned from the unexpected arrival and perhaps not up to recognizing a joke. ‘I understand. You’re ringing to cancel your holiday.’

‘Yes, I’m afraid so, because obviously Clara will be in hospital for a while and—’

‘Of course she will,’ Lorna soothed. ‘Absolutely. Well, my very best wishes to you both. To the three of you, I should say.’ Please don’t ask for a refund, she thought, her fingers tightening on the phone. Please don’t do that. You sound so nice, you and your wife and child, and it’s not as if you planned this to happen, but I really can’t let you off all that money, when we need it. Roy will kill me if I do.

‘Thank you very much,’ he said. ‘And we’re sorry to mess you around. We were both really looking forward to the holiday. In terms of the payments we’ve made . . .’

She knew it. Didn’t she know it? She felt her face twist in a grimace, anticipating the unpleasant moment when he asked and she had to say no, even though every instinct in her body wanted to acquiesce. How could she refuse him when he was so happy and emotional, when he had just become a father?

‘Obviously I know it’s too late to get any kind of a refund, and that’s fine,’ he went on, to her surprise. ‘But hopefully we can come down some other time as a family; maybe in the spring.’ He laughed, sounding tired. ‘Although I get the impression that holidays aren’t really the same when you’ve got a small person in tow.’

Her shoulders sagged in relief at how decent he was being, and how grateful she was in return, that he wasn’t going to argue or start trying to haggle her down. You’d be astonished at how many people did, and it never ended well. Left a nasty taste in your mouth every time. ‘Thank you,’ she replied. ‘Tell you what,’ she heard herself adding, because she was soft, too soft, just like Roy always said, ‘if you do decide to come back in the spring, remind me of this phone call and you can have the cottage for half-price. Our little gift to you all.’

‘Oh!’ That had surprised him. ‘That’s so kind. Thank you very much, Lorna.’

‘You’re welcome. Thanks for letting me know your news. And all the best. Welcome to parenthood.’