I was beginning to realize my initial assumption of Lucy as the power-dressed, organized CEO-in-waiting, wasn’t quite on the mark. She was actually a lot softer than that.

‘What about you – is the cot up?’ Lucy asked me.

‘We don’t have one yet – we’re going to choose it this weekend. John Lewis probably. My dad’s getting it for us.’

‘Aw, that’s nice, you’re close to your parents then?’

I paused. A tight feeling took a hold of my chest. ‘My mum passed away fifteen years ago.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Lucy said, looking into her coffee cup.

‘It’s okay. Dad’s still around, but he lives in Dubai with his girlfriend. He wanted to move closer to his parents in India. I don’t see any of them very often. He likes to send me lavish gifts to make up for that fact.’

‘That must have been a tough time, losing your mum in your twenties,’ Lucy said.

‘It was,’ I sighed. ‘When I was 21, life changed forever. All Dad’s money couldn’t prevent Mum from being diagnosed with Stage Four breast cancer at the age of 50. I would have done anything to keep her in our lives for longer.’

‘I’m sure she’d be so proud of you,’ Lucy smiled kindly. ‘A husband, baby on the way, successful career…’

‘Mum would have loved Jason – she probably would have seen the same spark and drive in him as my father had when she met him. But if Dad had been less concerned with earning money when I was a child, I often wonder whether we’d have had a closer relationship now. I’ve only seen him once in the last two years, and whenever I do see him it’s always stilted and formal. He keeps promising a father-daughter trip to India to meet long-lost relatives, but the invite never actually comes. Anyway – family! Enough about mine, what about you?’

Lucy exhaled sharply. ‘Families, indeed. We’re not close either. I mean, my parents are around, and in my life, but we’re different. So different. You know?’

‘I can relate to that. Funny how it can all go wrong. Up until my early twenties, there wasn’t a time I ever worried that my parents wouldn’t be around. I always got everything on my Christmas list and had birthday parties that were the talk of the playground for months afterwards. But I never imagined I’d lose my mum so quickly. It broke me and Dad.’ I felt a heavy sadness descend again.

‘I’m really sorry,’ she said, and she leant across the table and placed a hand on my forearm. ‘That must have been so hard. And especially now – being pregnant. It can bring so many feelings to the surface.’

I took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. ‘You can say that again.’

Lucy moved her hand and smiled graciously as a waiter interrupted this conversation by depositing our drinks, plus two almond croissants on the table. ‘I’ve had a serious craving for these recently,’ she said.