‘No, I know. But it’s important. It’s a big decision. And I didn’t want you to feel you had to make it on your own.’

‘I appreciate that,’ Holly answered, sounding distinctly unappreciative. ‘But I am on my own, Rob. And while I realise I have nobody to blame for that but myself, it also means I have a right to make my own choices. I’m a big girl. I’m perfectly capable of thinking through the implications of my actions, you know.’

Fleet turned slightly away, rubbing his eyes with his fingertips. Already this was going precisely as he hadn’t meant it to. He felt an urge to light another cigarette, but he knew that would only rile Holly further.

‘Look, Holly …’ Holly, this time, he noted, not Sprig. Which part of his subconscious mind had decided that would help the situation? ‘I’m just worried about you, that’s all. About the thought of you doing this all by yourself.’

‘Are you saying you don’t think I should keep it? That I won’t be able to cope?’

‘No! That’s not what I’m saying at all. I just—’

‘Because it sounds as though that’s what you’re saying,’ Holly interrupted. ‘Jesus Christ, Rob. You know I’ve always wanted a baby. More than anything else in the world. You’ve known that since the day you met me, practically, and you’re sure as hell aware of it now.’

They were getting dangerously close to replicating the same argument they’d had on and off for years: the one that always led them around in circles, and that had eventually caused them to agree to separate. It was the only path they’d been able to identify that offered them a way out of the endless loop.

And yet here they were, being drawn right back in again. Fleet could see it happening, and he knew he should say something to diffuse the tension.

Instead: ‘That sounds an awful lot like an accusation,’ he said.

‘An accusation? In what way is it an accusation?’

‘This idea that I’ve always known that having a baby is exactly what you wanted. That it was my fault for somehow not understanding how much it meant to you.’

‘Oh, please,’ said Holly. ‘Don’t let’s start all of this again. Not now.’

‘We never had the conversation, Holly,’ Fleet said, aware he was being disingenuous. ‘When we met, you said you were focused on your career. You were very definite about that.’

‘I said for the time being I wanted to focus on my career! That’s not the same thing, and you know it!’

Holly threw up her arms and turned away. Immediately she turned right back again.

‘Besides,’ she said, ‘what the hell business is it of yours? I mean, you do realise what’s going on here, don’t you?’

Fleet narrowed his eyes. ‘What?’