‘We’ll be fine.’ Ben kissed me again and then bent to pick his holdalls up. I opened the door for him.

‘I shan’t wave you off or I’ll cry.’

‘I’ll call you later.’ As Ben walked out of the door, I gave a small wave and closed it behind him.

The days without Ben passed fairly rapidly as I was busy with work. Ben called me every morning and evening, sent photos and even asked for photos of the bump. I eventually sent him one to shut him up.

Eve had been ill all week. One of her annual head colds. But at least it was a distraction from my nausea which, although it had subsided from all-day sickness, peaked during the morning and last thing at night. Eve moped about the flat with a box of tissues under her arm and I made her microwaved chicken broth and Lemsips. Soon enough Friday had arrived and despite her perpetual blocked nose and headache, she was unbelievably still badgering me about my birthday, which was three days away.

‘So what are we going to do? Ben is away. We should have a party. It’s Friday 13^th! We should go out. You’re turning twenty-nine on Monday, Daze. This is epic.’ Eve was buzzing around me in the kitchen as I made lunch.

‘No, turning thirty is epic. Turning twenty-nine is pretty boring and not something I wish to think about. Ben isn’t here and I don’t fancy doing anything until he gets back.’

‘You’re really boring.’ Eve huffed, stuck out her bottom lip and blew her nose.

I looked at her and let out a sigh. ‘Fine. We’ll eat supper. Early.’

‘Supper? I can’t smell or taste anything Daze.’

If I was going to be dragged out on my birthday while pregnant, I wanted to eat delicious food first. ‘You’ll just have to watch me enjoying it.’

Eve pulled her mouth down into her best sad expression.

‘Fine, I’ll get takeaway and then we’ll do that cocktail bar.’

‘Okay, do you think they do a honey, lemon and ginger cocktail? I can wear that new dress. This is so exciting. See, you haven’t abandoned me for married life.’ Eve danced around me.

‘I never had any intention of abandoning you, Eve. I’m still the same person. You’ll see when you and Patrick make it official.’

‘I’ll never marry Patrick.’ Eve stopped dancing and gave her nose a triumphant blow.

I grimaced. ‘And does Patrick know this?’

‘Not yet.’

‘I thought you guys were like, solid. I presumed you’d be moving in with him, you know, when the baby comes. I know we’ve not discussed it, but…’

‘It’s fine, Daisy, of course I’m not going to make you move. Of course my room will become the nursery. I’ve already started looking. I’ll make sure I’m gone in plenty of time for you to do all your nesting.’

I hadn’t had any such instincts. I actually wanted Eve to stay, for everything to remain the same.