‘Don’t ever say that,’ he said, coming towards her. ‘Our having a baby is the best thing ever to happen to me. The next best thing after meeting you, of course,’ he added with a smile.

‘But I can’t do anything right in your eyes. And you called me stupid.’

He put a hand to her hair and tucked it behind her ear. ‘Sometimes you do stupid things, that’s all. Like not telling me where you were going after work. I was waiting for you to come home. I’d planned a special supper for us. I was worried about you.’

‘But I thought you were going to the gym this evening.’

‘I changed my mind. I came home early wanting to surprise you with a Thai takeaway I picked up on the way home. But you weren’t here.’

‘Why didn’t you text me?’

‘What, and have you think I was checking up on you? That’s the last thing I’d want.’

She supposed there was some logic in what he’d just said, but she couldn’t see it. ‘Well, I’m here now,’ she said brightly, and thinking how much she would enjoy some Thai food. But there was no sign of any foil cartons on the worktops, just a lingering appetising smell that was suddenly making her realise how hungry she was.

‘I’m afraid I threw yours in the bin,’ he said, as though picking up on her thoughts, as he so regularly seemed able to do. ‘It was ruined by hanging around for you.’

‘Oh,’ she said, disappointed.

‘Didn’t you eat when you were with your friends celebrating Steven’s birthday?’ he asked.

‘Stefan,’ she said. ‘And no, I didn’t have anything to eat, it really was just a round of drinks we had. But not to worry, I’ll make myself some toast.’ If she was really careful she could do that without making too much of a mess in Rick’s pristine kitchen, and winding him up further.

‘Absolutely not,’ he said, placing his hands around her face and kissing her forehead. ‘I want you to go and run yourself a bath and while you relax, I’ll rustle up something nutritious and tasty for you and the baby. That,’ he went on, ‘is my way of saying sorry for calling you stupid.’ He tilted her head up. ‘Am I forgiven?’

Relief flooding through her that he was no longer cross, she smiled. ‘Yes. Am I forgiven for not telling you where I was going after work?’

‘Forgiven and forgotten,’ he said. ‘Go on, off you go and enjoy your bath. I’ll give you a shout when your supper is ready.’

‘I’m so lucky,’ she said later when she and Rick were lying on the sofa together. One of his hands was absently playing with her hair as they watched the latest episode of Line of Duty.

‘Why’s that?’ he asked.

‘No real reason,’ she replied, ‘I just felt like saying the words out loud.’

‘You are funny,’ he said.

She snuggled in closer to him. ‘But then that’s why you love me, isn’t it?’