‘Wait – her? How do you know it’s a girl? Isn’t this a gender reveal party?’

‘Oh! Shit. I dunno. Just rolled off me tongue. I meant his or her hair.’

‘Unless, Chlo, you’ve got good instincts, too.’

I mean to laugh, politely, but I choke a bit, then clear my throat like a sick monster. Ollie rings the doorbell and we wait for Giles or Ingrid to buzz us up. I grip the box tighter. Ollie rocks back and forth. I can’t see his shoes – the box is blinding my vision – but I bet they’re smart Timberlands, or similar.

‘Have you been to a gender reveal party before?’ Ollie asks.

‘Nope, I’m a total virgin.’

‘That’s something else we have in common, then.’

‘Hello?’ Ingrid sings through the intercom.

‘Hey, it’s Ollie and Chlo,’ Ollie sings back.

We’re buzzed in and Ollie pushes the door open wide.

‘After you,’ he says.

I’m being overcautious, taking my time with each step. Ollie’s sniggering behind me.

‘Stop it!’ I snap. ‘If I drop this cake, it’s on you!’

‘Literally.’

We make it to the top of the stairs and just before we go in, Ollie stops, his hand naturally landing upon my elbow as he looks down at the cake box.

‘So, what’s your prediction?’ he asks.

I give a small, careful shrug, then look up.

Our eyes meet.

‘Well, Ollie. I guess we’re about to find out.’

Acknowledgements

This book was written during two challenging stretches; the end of my second pregnancy into the newborn phase, and a global pandemic. Without the love and support of the following wonderful people, I could never have achieved what I feared was impossible.

Thank you to the team at Avon, especially Helen Huthwaite. Your understanding for working mums is like receiving the warmest hug and I hope women all over get to experience such care. A huge thank you to my editor, Phoebe Morgan, a publishing rockstar. Your belief in this book has truly meant the world to me. And I’m so lucky to once again thank the wonderful Camilla Bolton, my agent at Darley Anderson.

To Nils Mohl and Deborah Du Preez Taylor, my kindred spirits of the storytelling world. Thank you for the early brainstorming sessions. Now, let’s get that pilot written, eh?

For putting up with endless questions about teaching, a big thank you and tambourine shake goes to my three bezzie mates; Kate Benjamin, Maria Howarth and Michelle Monaghan. I’d thank Aunty Val, too, but she never bothered to get her teaching qualification.