“You’re carrying my child and I need to make sure that you’re keeping it healthy. I want to come to your hospital appointments with you. The scans. And when it’s born, we are going to share the care of it.”

I stared at him, unable to believe what I was hearing.

“I’m going for fifty-fifty custody, by the way,” he said. “I should have done that when Belinda and I split up but it wasn’t so common then. I’m not going to make that mistake again. I’m not having another man seeing more of my child than I do myself.”

“No way. Don’t even think about it.”

“There’s no point arguing.” He leaned forward; he seemed excited, fired up with adrenaline. I swear he was getting off on the challenge. “Ruby and I own that house outright. When it’s sold I’ll have enough for a smaller house and I’ll be able to work part-time, so I’ll be able to do my share of childcare.” I opened my mouth to object but he continued, “And I’ve got enough savings to stop work altogether for a few years if I need to. So if you want to work full-time, that’s fine.”

“Are you insane? You’re not going to have my baby half of the time!”

“Once the first three months have passed, yes. It’s our baby, Emma. You’ve got to stop being so selfish. It’s our baby: yours and mine. You might be the person carrying it, but once it’s born, it’s no more yours than it is mine.”

I knew that I’d never see Harry again if he heard what Tom was saying now. There was the slightest chance he’d stay with me if it was another man’s child, but not if that man was going to demand fifty-fifty childcare. And not if that man was Tom. Why would he? My heart raced at the thought of losing Harry and seeing my baby only half of the week.

I picked up my bag. “There’s no point to this conversation.”

“But there is! I’ve told you; I’ve been through all this before, with Josh. I’m not losing another child. And when you give birth . . .”

“Don’t even think you’ll be there for that.”

“I’m the child’s father,” he said calmly. “And if you think Harry will be there, you’ve got another think coming.” He gave me a cheeky grin. “The one who’s there at the conception should be the one who’s there at the birth. Everyone knows that.”