‘Well. He might have responded more sensitively.’

‘He might have. Anyway, the violence of my reaction seemed to convince him that it probably was his.’

‘Right. And what did the rage therapist say when you told her that?’

‘She said, “Men.”’

‘And the man? What does he think?’

‘He says he wants to be involved.’

‘Great.’

‘He seemed almost pleased after he got over the shock. He’s going to come to the next scan, the twenty-week one.’

‘Right.’

‘Which is weird, right?’

‘It doesn’t have to be. Perhaps he likes you.’

‘I barely know him at all.’

‘And now you’re, er…’

‘Stuck with him, yeah. Well, I’m not, as much as my baby is.’

‘But you liked him when you met him, presumably.’

‘I did. Anyway. He’s coming over in a couple of weeks to help get the new flat ready for the baby. Do you want to come and meet him, and make sure he doesn’t murder us both?’

‘Yes, of course,’ I said, and then there was a knock on the door. I went to let Sophie in.

‘Sophie, my sister Amy. You met each other briefly at Emily’s launch.’

They smiled at each other and Sophie looked down at Amy’s bump. ‘Wow,’ she said. ‘Wow.’

Amy smiled again. ‘I was just about to leave.’

‘Congratulations.’

‘Thanks.’

But on the way out Amy took some time running over the plan again for buying a place, to make sure I understood, and was convinced, and knew what I would need to do – and Sophie, who had sat down on the kitchen counter, grew restless while she did.

‘Property, property, property,’ she muttered.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Amy.

‘Oh, don’t mind me.’

‘OK.’

‘Just remember that it’s property investors who are killing this city.’

‘If you were listening,’ said Amy, ‘we were talking about a plan to use the small amount of money we’ll get from our mother’s house as a deposit to buy somewhere for Paul to live. This money from a house which she paid for by working as a teacher for her entire adult life.’

‘Then why do you keep going on about what a great investment it is?’

‘Am I right that you live… with your mother, I think Paul mentioned?’

‘Yes. Because I can’t afford to buy somewhere because of all the speculators and buy-to-letters.’

‘I sympathise. London townhouses are so expensive these days. You might as well live at your mother’s until you can inherit it. But, you know? I’m currently seeing a therapist so I don’t stress my unborn baby out, so I definitely will go now and catch up with Paul later on the phone.’

Sophie looked down and carried on reading, as if she hadn’t heard her. Perhaps she was embarrassed.

When I had seen Amy down the fire escape and come back, Sophie said, ‘She doesn’t like me.’