‘I know I’m still only thirty, so there’s my whole life ahead of me for kids,’ Penny said. ‘Except, every day feels like this perfect, beautiful gift, and I don’t want to throw that away. My business is secure, I work really sensible hours, I can afford childcare … the only thing I don’t have is the ability to carry the kid myself. And, well, a father-figure.’

‘That’s where I come in – not as a father-figure, obvs, but I can carry it. At least let me do the tests, see if I’m viable to help. Because I want to.’

‘I can’t ask you to do this,’ Penny said.

‘You’re not,’ Clementine replied. ‘I offered. My womb, your baby, made from some lovely German sperm. You said it’s German, didn’t you? And I’m bringing this up now as I’m going to be in London for at least six months this autumn, because we’re doing a concession stand in Selfridges as well as the new White City store. I’ll be around, like actually around, and I’ve also got a lot of holiday to take as well. Logistically, now is the time I can help, plus I’m young and I’m healthy, and I think you’ve sat on the idea long enough to hold your head high in saying you’ve given it real thought. Not that I’m judge and jury on a woman knowing her own mind. Just, I see what this means to you.’

Penny moved to rest her head on her sister’s arm. ‘I keep thinking of that yoga retreat. The stories of all those women. What are the chances that on my very first retreat I’d end up with nine women who all had different motherhood stories? There was a forty-three-year-old there who had used a donor and was already seven months pregnant. A lesbian who’d done a turkey baster with her best gay mate, and because they were doctors they got it sorted literally the second time they tried. And that was more than twenty years ago! Their son just graduated from Cambridge!’

Clementine nodded, making her shoulder jiggle and Penny’s head move up and down with it.

‘I know you worry about getting Uncle David on side, but I think he just worries that you’d be alone, and that having a baby on your own is a lot of work. He’s still old school that way.’

‘Well, I am seeing somebody now …’

‘You are …’