Right then, dear, let’s get you some lunch and then I’ll be back to try this out.’ Annie swept herself out of the room as quickly as she entered it.

Sometime later she returned. It couldn’t have been too long as I hadn’t yet made it from the window over to the bed. Annie laid the tray out on one side of the bed and patted the other side. I obeyed and sat down like an old trained dog.

She handed me a glass of water and small white tablet. I took them both, placed the pill on my tongue and swallowed it with a large glass of water.

I had no idea what I was taking them for. But Annie said I was slightly unstable and to get me back on track I needed a little pick me up.

‘I don’t feel like these are working,’ I said with a slight tremor to my voice. I still felt as though I was living life outside of myself as an observer.

‘That’s because you’re carrying a baby. Your hormones are all over the place. But believe me, if you weren’t taking them…’ Annie stopped fussing with the tray and looked at me. ‘Well, Daisy, I don’t know what state you would be in. You have had such a shock these last few months. So much to deal with.’ Annie whipped out the strange-looking machine again. ‘Right, finish your sandwich and then shall we have a go with this thing then?’

I chewed and swallowed the bread which felt thick as a brick in my throat. Annie looked at me with what looked like irritation.

‘Something wrong?’

‘I’ve never been a big eater of bread and I don’t know, it tastes strange today.’

‘It’s bread, Daisy. It won’t kill you,’ Annie said and all I heard was that one word. Kill. I looked at her and her stare seemed to penetrate through me.

I put the plate with half-eaten sandwich back on the tray and Annie placed it on the floor.

‘This bit is the Doppler!’ Annie held the base up. ‘You put the headphones on and hear the baby’s heartbeat. The Doppler goes on your stomach, I think… I’m not sure. Anyway, let’s just muddle through. You are supposed to lie down and pull your T-shirt up. I’ve got this gel stuff, it helps move the Doppler bit around so we can hear the baby.’

I lay down and pulled my T-shirt up.

‘Well, aren’t you lucky not to have stretch marks Daisy?’ Annie’s voice sailed through a cacophony of notes as she fiddled with the device.

‘Did you get stretch marks? With Ben?’ I asked.

Annie stopped fiddling and her faraway look was back. ‘Oh yes, as far as the eye could see. I’d never make a bikini model. Right, shall we get on then?’ Annie’s look was gone and she was back in the moment. I eyed the Doppler nervously. ‘There’s nothing to worry about, it’s like listening to a song on a pair of headphones.’