‘Yes,’ Martha finally managed to say. She swallowed. ‘Well, I suppose I should offer you my congratulations.’ She immediately regretted her choice of words.

‘Yes, I suppose you should,’ he said. ‘But I think you ought to know the reason why Willow didn’t want you to know about the baby. She was worried it would upset you; you being so desperate to have a child of your own. She really is one of the sweetest, kindest and most considerate of people. But then I don’t need to tell you that.’

‘No,’ Martha said, ‘Willow has always had a very generous and warm-hearted nature. She certainly puts me to shame.’

He made no attempt to dispute this. Instead he asked if he could pass on a message from her to Willow.

‘Just tell her I called,’ Martha said.

‘But you will promise not to tell her that I let the cat out of the bag, won’t you? I don’t want to find myself in the dog-house. If that isn’t too much of a mix of metaphors.’

‘Of course,’ she murmured, her throat tight with the weight of pain his blitheness was causing her. ‘I’ll wait for Willow to share her good news with me when she’s ready.’

‘Thanks for that. Oh, and not a word to your mother. Not yet. Let’s keep this between ourselves.’

Martha agreed and ended the call.

She was halfway through a second glass of wine – not caring that it was a non-alcohol night – when Tom came in from the garden. His gaze caught on the glass in her hand. Then her face.

‘You okay?’ he asked.

‘No,’ she struggled to say. Her voice wobbled and she bit down on her lower lip. Turning away from Tom, she fought hard to stop herself from crying.

‘Martha? What is it?’ He crossed the kitchen and turned her round to face him.

‘It’s Willow,’ she said, ‘she’s pregnant. Rick just told me.’

‘Rick told you?’

Stumbling over her words, she relayed the conversation she’d had with Rick. ‘He didn’t mean to tell me. He said that Willow didn’t want me to know, that it would upset me too much. And she’s right, Tom. I feel miserable. I know I should be happy for her, but I’m not. I’m torn apart with jealousy. It should be me who’s pregnant, not her! And that makes me the worst of the worst, a selfish bitch who can’t be happy for her own sister. I hate myself!’

Taking the glass from her shaking hands, he took her in his arms. ‘Don’t speak that way about yourself. It’s only natural that you’re jealous. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing this wasn’t planned on their part.’

‘Willow’s never planned anything in her life,’ said Martha with a defiant sniff.

Tom released his hold on her and tipped Martha’s head back so he could look at her. ‘Well, that’s true,’ he said with a smile. ‘Maybe that’s been our problem; we’ve planned too much. Maybe we need to be more like Willow, just go with the flow.’