‘Snap!’ I exclaimed, sounding a little more enthusiastic than was necessary, I was so glad of the distraction. ‘Maybe it’s a pregnancy thing. This is sweet of you, thanks. Anyway – how are you feeling about getting close to your due date?’

She stroked her bump. ‘Yes, I’m really excited about meeting this little man. I’m sure he’s dropped in the last few days. Do you feel like that?’

‘I wish.’ I shifted on the chair. ‘My bump still feels so high, I can feel it pressing against my ribcage a lot of the time. I can’t wait for it to drop. Sleeping is becoming really uncomfortable. Jason keeps complaining I wriggle too much. And you should see the number of pillows in our bed.’

‘Your bump is perfect,’ she said, her eyes fastened on me. ‘I bet Jason thinks you look amazing – because you do. You’re glowing.’ Embarrassed by receiving such a big compliment, I looked away. ‘I just hope my other half, Oscar, is as ready as he says he is, when the baby actually arrives. You know, is he prepared for the sleepless nights and changes to our lifestyle?’ She stopped and gazed out of the window.

‘I’m not sure any of us have got our heads around it yet,’ I tried to reassure her.

‘Oscar already has two children, you see, from a previous relationship. It’s a lot to ask of him, to do it again. I just hope we’ll cope okay.’

‘I know what you mean,’ I admitted. ‘Jason’s been working late so much recently. I guess he’s only trying to clock up the overtime payments, but I do worry sometimes too. He didn’t react brilliantly when I got pregnant.’ I stopped myself. Perhaps this was also too heavy for our first coffee date. ‘Have you lived in Clapham for long?’ I asked quickly, keen to change the subject.

‘Not long, actually,’ she revealed. ‘The house is still quite sparse. I’m kind of loving being free of clutter, but it doesn’t feel like home yet either. The walls need more pictures, we need a rug – I’ve got my eye on one from Graham and Green. I’ve been nesting like mad – with Oscar away so much for work there’s been plenty of time for online shopping.’

‘Where were you living before?’ I asked.

‘Only down the road in Brixton. We needed more space—’

‘So you bought a house,’ I finished her sentence.

‘We’re renting actually,’ she continued, making me feel slightly better about our modest flat around the corner. She paused. ‘It’s a trial, I guess.’

‘A try before you buy?’ I asked, wondering if they were in the market for a plush townhouse in the neighbourhood.

‘That too, but Oscar’s already got a property in central London. I meant it’s a trial for him and me – it’s a fairly new relationship,’ she revealed, catching my gaze once more. ‘We met at work. He’s divorced, you see. Well, he is now.’

‘Oh, right.’ I could see she was weighing up whether or not to tell me something. I kept quiet, hoping she would elaborate.