“Exactly. And boys are taught to be strong.” Katie did quotes in the air. “And self-confident. Historically, male and female personalities have been pigeonholed from birth. That’s why we have men unable to express their emotions and women apologizing profusely on every step of the career ladder.”

“We’ll be changing history for our little miracle, won’t we, darling?” said Jeremy, lovingly resting his hand on Katie’s bump. “No girl- or boy-only traits; this child will be encouraged to embrace the full range of human idiosyncrasies.”

Katie smiled at her husband and closed her eyes contentedly.

“You always were a goddamn hippie,” said Charles, smiling fondly at his friend.

“I think you’re absolutely right,” Jenna said. “If we have sons, I don’t want them growing up in fear of their emotions. And if we have girls, I’ll be teaching them to kick arse!”

“I think your child is very lucky,” said Isaac to Jeremy. Nory thought her heart would burst.

“Thanks, mate.” Jeremy smiled.

“How about you two?” asked Charles, pointing at Isaac and then Dev. “Did you have to deal with the same macho bullshit we did as kids?”

“Charles, what kind of a question is that?” Jenna admonished.

“I’m curious. Guy and I were brought up in an almost Victorian environment in terms of the way men were supposed to behave.”

“My dad was what you’d call a man’s man,” said Isaac. “We didn’t talk about feelings, and they weren’t encouraged. My mum handled all that stuff. He was a good man, don’t get me wrong, a great father. But we didn’t have the kind of relationship where I would go to him with my problems unless they were mechanical, or plant related.”

Charles nodded in understanding.

“Mine was the opposite,” said Dev. “We had to talk about everything!” He deepened his voice. “ ‘Dev, my son, you must not bury things, it is bad for the soul. We were born with voices, so let us use them.’ ”

“Basically, the opposite of my family.” Ameerah laughed.

“Your family sound like mine,” said Nory to Dev. “Never repress what you could express,” she said, wagging her finger.

Ameerah laughed again. “I don’t think Jake Noel has ever repressed a thought in his life,” she said, and Nory agreed.

The friends were quiet for a time, the warmth of the fire lulling them away from conversation. The only sounds were those of the flames licking the logs in the hearth and the faraway noises of Charles and Jenna’s wedding day paraphernalia being dismantled by Pippa’s power team.

“Well,” said Jeremy, gently rousing Katie, who had dropped off to sleep. “It’s been shits and giggles, but I need to get my good lady wife up to bed.”

Charles stretched and Jenna heaved herself up off his lap, her hair squashed on one side and the creases of Charles’s trousers indented in one red cheek.