Caro straightened up and leaned against the side to catch her breath. ‘You mean like a date-like thing? How many dates will that be?’

‘They’re not dates, Caro, they’re just meetings. Run-ins. Neighbours doing something together like the way this whole village does stuff together. Are you sure you don’t want to sit down? I can do this.’

‘I’m fine. Don’t try and change the subject, and of course it’s just neighbourliness, darling. You keep telling yourself that. Then again, I’m not sure they class as dates if there are kids around.’

‘Exactly.’ Bella paused as soap suds slid from her fingers. ‘Caro, I can’t fall for anyone yet, can I? It’s far too soon.’

‘Who says?’

‘I don’t know, but don’t you think it is?’

‘Not if that’s what your heart is telling you. Think about me and Luke. We got together a week after I split from Terry the Turd.’

‘Yeah, but you were with Terry for a few months. Evan and I were together for five years. It doesn’t seem right somehow.’

‘That’s for your heart to decide, really. You can’t tell it what it can and can’t feel.’

Bella had to admit that her feelings for Nick were growing stronger. She looked forward to seeing him every day and Freddie was just a wonderful, sweet little boy. He was special. They both were. ‘Nick mentioned he made a list after Paige left. He said he found it hard to understand where things had gone wrong, so he listed all the things they’d fought about.’

Caro scrunched up her face. ‘Bit mental but carry on.’

‘I thought it was a good idea.’ Bella scowled. ‘I couldn’t put my finger on what had gone wrong with me and Evan. I mean, I thought of one or two times where we seemed to be going off in different directions, but that was it. So last night I did it too. I made a list and it really helped me solidify a few things.’

Caro let out a breath and placed a hand on her bump.

‘Caro? What’s wrong? Caro? Shit. Have you got a contraction? What’s happening? How far along are you again? Is it okay if the baby comes now? It’s not, is it? Shit. Shall I call Mum? Mum!’

Cynthia shot into the kitchen.

‘What?’ Bella asked as Caro’s face changed into a grin.

‘It’s indigestion, you lunatic, that’s all. Calm down. Jesus, I’m glad you’re a teacher and not a midwife.’

So was Bella. After everything she’d seen that day and Caro’s words, she couldn’t handle anything else. With a tut their mum went back to the living room and Caro stopped drying the dishes and sat down at the kitchen table.

‘So what did you figure out?’