‘There we go,’ came a sing-song voice and both Ben and I shot up from under the sheets. Annie stood in the doorway where Ben had closed it moments ago.

‘Mum!’ Ben wailed. I grabbed the sheets around me again. I looked at Ben, my eyes wide with question. ‘What are you doing, Mum?’ The agitation was fraught in Ben’s voice.

‘Delivering you your clothes. You get the full service when you come here, Daisy.’ Annie placed a small pile of neatly folded clothes on the end of the bed. I instantly recognised the T-shirt and pregnancy jeans I had been wearing yesterday and then, to my horror, I saw placed on top were my matching purple lace knickers and bra. I felt my face flush. Then I felt the anger rise.

‘Annie, I really don’t think this was necessary. Those…’ I paused with embarrassment and pointed feebly to my underwear. ‘They are very delicate.’

‘Oh yes, dear, I know. Don’t worry, I read the label and washed them accordingly.’ Annie said and Ben placed his head in his hands and groaned.

‘Right, who’s for a delicious fry-up?’ Annie said raising her eyebrows like an excited child.

I had the sensation of a watery mouth. I yanked my jeans from the pile at the end of the bed sending Annie’s perfect folded washing into array. With Annie’s huffing in my ear, I made it to the toilet just in time to throw up.

Half an hour later, we emerged into the kitchen where Annie was standing trying to conceal her annoyance at having waited a further thirty minutes to serve the breakfast.

‘Well, your bacon will be dried up now. There’s fresh fried eggs but that’s the best I can do.’ Annie’s words were coarse as she stood wringing the tea towel between her hands. She looked hard at me. I was suddenly very glad we were leaving straight after breakfast. I felt like I’d over-stayed my visit here.

‘How are you feeling now, Daisy? Too many rich foods last night. I always pace myself over Christmas, nothing worse than mince pies and brandy sloshing around your stomach.’

Of course, she was still refusing to acknowledge any real association with the baby. The baby I was having with her son. The baby that was still making me sick and want to retch again just thinking about Annie’s fried eggs.

‘Yes, it must have been that Annie,’ I said playing along. ‘I could have stayed in that bed all day though’ I said wishing I were there now and not sitting in Annie’s stark kitchen.

‘It is a good bed, Daisy,’ Annie said stiffly. ‘Never been slept in by anyone except Ben. We will go for a walk later? I’ve got pancetta to make some turkey club sandwiches for lunch and a stack of board games just waiting to be played.’

I looked at Ben and then hung my head, leaving him to deal with his mother on his own.