There’s a pause. Another nervous rub of his beard. ‘I told you there would be numerous participants; we can’t base our findings purely on Adam.’

‘But…’ I feel sick with panic. ‘You don’t have anyone else yet, do you?’

‘Not yet, no. But you need to be aware it’s something we’re working towards. You being here, doing this, it isn’t a long-term plan, Anna. You knew this.’

‘But…’ I glance at Sofia; she can’t meet my eye.

‘I’ve always said that after we’ve collected the results that we need, I’d cover the costs of flying you home, pay for Adam to be assessed by a private doctor in the UK.’

‘Fine.’ Anger has dried my tears. ‘Do you want us to leave now or do you want to carry on and let me try one more time?’ My heart thuds. I call his bluff.

It works.

Soon, my fingers are laced through Adam’s. Oliver begins counting backwards. I’m not as tense as the first couple of times, expecting again to effortlessly slip back into my life, into my home. I feel myself falling, falling and I wait.

Instead of the slight dizziness and disorientation I felt before as Oliver reaches the count of one, pain rips through me.

Pain like I’ve never experienced before.

Chapter Fifty

Oliver

Oliver is disappointed in himself that his desire to carry on with the trial has overridden his resolve that he should be the one taking part this time. Despite his assurances that it was a power failure last time that had wrenched Anna back too early, what if it wasn’t a one-off blip? Oliver isn’t convinced this is safe. He is nervous about what experience she might have this time. He watches her carefully as he counts down. Sees the way her feet jerk as he reaches one. He hears her breath through his mic, it’s fast.

Too fast.

Chapter Fifty-One

Anna

The tidal wave of pain slams into me once more. I screw my eyes tightly closed while I grapple with my brain to lift my arm. Oliver needs to bring me back. Something is wrong.

Very wrong.

‘We need to get you to hospital.’ Adam’s voice reaches me. I try to tell him we’re already in the hospital but the pain comes again, snatching my breath away. ‘Fuck.’ I can sense his panic. ‘The contractions are getting closer together. Let’s go or you’ll be giving birth in the car.’

I open my eyes. I am sitting on the stairs at home. Adam swims in and out of focus but his presence calms me, my breathing levelling out.

‘Are we… We’re having a baby?’ I ask.

‘We sure are. Your maternity bag is in the car. Are you okay to walk?’ He supports my weight.

‘But… but I’m not ready.’ It wasn’t supposed to be like this.