She felt a part of the team – they all believed in what they were doing. Things started moving fast: a graduation, with her mum there, and Will’s parents, all of them together that warm June day, all except her dad. The incredible moment of trying on the pouch for the first time, feeling it snug and soft against her body, the surge of love it inspired. Will’s face whenever he held it, as he cupped his hand around the curve of their baby in the second, the third trimester.

‘Thank you,’ he said to her, a few weeks before their due date, as they held their hands together to feel another of Daphne’s kicks.

Holly reached in for a kiss. ‘What are you thanking me for?’ she said. ‘We’ve done this together.’

‘We have, haven’t we?’ He grinned, and she reached a fingertip to each of his dimples. ‘But I suppose I meant … I can feel her feet, her hands, against my body. Near my tummy, sometimes, or near my ribs. Do you think she’s trying to tickle me?’

Holly laughed. ‘I think she’s exploring her world.’

‘But then, I imagine not having felt that …’ He shook his head. ‘What I mean is, thank you for sharing.’ He laughed almost nervously and her heart leapt to him.

They had a big celebration, after Daphne was born, at FullLife – a birth day party for Daphne, they called it, but of course they were celebrating more than that. It was a celebration of achievement, of hope, of the future, of Freida’s dream. After the champagne and Sylvia’s speech, Holly found Freida hiding out in the corridor.

‘You should be taking the credit,’ Holly whispered with a grin. ‘You are the one who achieved all this.’ She had been such an inspiration.

Freida just smiled.

‘All I care about is that Daphne is OK.’

‘Daphne is wonderful!’ Holly exclaimed. ‘And you knew she would be. You promised.’

‘You mean Sylvia—’ Freida began.

‘And you were right,’ Holly said. ‘Everything you’ve said has been proved right. You’re my hero!’

Freida laughed at that, shaking her head but delighted all the same, Holly could tell.

‘Now let’s go celebrate, OK? This is your party.’

‘Anything for you, Holly.’

So Holly turned and walked purposefully back to the smiles and cake and balloons, to Will and their new baby. She climbed onto a table to get everyone’s attention and then, in front of all the staff of FullLife, she made a speech of her own. Because she needed to say thank you to Freida, who had changed her world.

The train passed a winding river that glinted between hills of forest. The trees glowed red and orange in the strange light that filled the sky. Overhead there was a textured deep-water grey, not the sharp clear blue they’d had in London for most of the winter – this was different.