‘Wow. That’s great. How exciting! When are you going?’

‘The day after tomorrow.’

Jamie was shocked. ‘That soon?’’Well, yeah. There’s no time to waste.’

‘And the physio says you’re fit enough?’ Kirsty asked.

‘Says I’m as fit as I’ll ever be. Apparently, my recovery has been quite astonishing. And that’s a direct quote.’

‘Well. That’s fantastic. Have you told Heather?’

‘No.Why should I?’

‘Because she’s still…’ Kirsty rubbed her tailbone and sighed. ‘You know you’ve really hurt her, don’t you?’

‘Yes, but I was just explaining to Jamie–’ He ran briefly through his reasons for breaking up with Heather again.

‘I do understand,’ Kirsty said when he had finished. ‘I’d probably have done the same in your shoes. It’s just a shame that you’re going to leave the rest of us to clear up the mess.’

‘I know, Kirsty. But what else can I do? I mean, I could have tried to give it another go. I could have strung her along for a while. Maybe I could have gone away with the promise that I’d write every week and that eventually I’d return to her arms.’

‘She’d probably have wanted to go with you.’

‘Exactly. And I need to do this on my own. Singular.’ He smiled and touched her stomach lightly. ‘Whereas you are about to become plural.’

‘Well, in six months.’

‘What does it feel like, having another life inside you?’

‘It feels like the best thing ever.’

‘What, better than having Jamie inside you?’

She slapped him playfully. ‘You’re so rude! But it’s nice to have the old Paul back. Not that miserable git we had to put up with in the hospital.’

‘Anyone would be miserable in your hospital.’

‘Up yours.’

Jamie came over and put his arm around Kirsty’s shoulders. He knew this would be the last occasion he saw Paul for a long time. But what Paul had said was true: he had Kirsty and they were going to have a child. He was going to be so busy when the baby was born he probably wouldn’t notice that Paul wasn’t around.

Probably.

They both hugged Paul goodbye at the front door. Jamie kept a wary eye out for Chris, but his car was still absent from its spot, and there was no sign of Lucy either. It was chilly outside; the pigeons on the rooftops opposite huddled together for warmth, puffing up their feathers.

‘We can email each other wherever I am and I’ll no doubt put loads of pics on Facebook, just to make you sick with jealousy.’

The mention of emails made Jamie feel slightly ill. It made him think about work. And Chris. Their intruder.

‘You take good care of her, Jamie. You really are a lucky man, you know. Even if you don’t feel like it all the time.’

Jamie nodded.