Outside, the light dips into dusk. I walk quickly through the bustling streets, the Christmas lights and street lamps casting a festive glow over our little town. I place a hand over my stomach and consider the new life growing there. I realise I’m excited to tell Toby. To tell everyone! I wonder what Dad will say. Whether he’ll show any emotion over becoming a grandfather. Or if he’ll take it in his stride like he seems to do with everything.

What about my sister? I should probably tell her she’s going to be an aunt. Maybe it will heal things between us. Although probably not. I think events might have gone too far for that. I sigh and shove my hands into my coat pockets. Thinking about Dina has put a dampener on my news.

I turn off the main road onto Gold Hill and negotiate my way carefully down the slippery cobbled road, its cottages huddled together against the chilly December evening, their lighted windows casting an orange glow across the cobblestones.

Our little house is one of the terraced cottages at the bottom of the hill. It’s a work in progress that we’re gradually doing up, but if we’re going to have a baby in seven months’ time, we’ll have to get busy on the second bedroom.

Toby’s pickup truck is parked outside, and the lights are on in the house. I take a deep breath and stride up to the front door, put my key in the lock and turn it. As I walk inside, I call out to my husband.

‘Hi, Zo, I’m in the kitchen!’ he replies.

I normally hang my coat on the hook, but today I don’t bother, instead walking straight through to the cosy room at the back of the house, the oil-fired range doing a good job of keeping things warm. Toby’s face lights up as I walk in. He’s sitting at the small, square kitchen table but gets to his feet, cups my face in his hands and kisses me. ‘I missed you.’

‘Me too,’ I reply.

‘Wish we were back in Lanzarote.’ He gives me a wistful look and pulls me down onto his lap.

‘I know. It feels like a century ago. How was work?’

‘Cold.’ He laughs. ‘It was good to see Dad and Nick again. Oh, Mum and Dad have invited us over for dinner tomorrow night.’

‘Cool, what time?’

‘Seven-ish.’

I get to my feet.

‘Hey, come back here,’ Toby says, trying to pull me down onto his lap again. But I resist as I want to see his face when I break the news.

‘It’s actually good we’re going to see your parents tomorrow.’

‘Oh yeah?’ Toby raises an eyebrow. ‘Why’s that?’

‘Because we might have some news for them.’

‘News?’