Even though Mum’s behaviour could be erratic and downright scary at times, shouting and flying off the handle at the most innocuous of things, I was terrified of being taken into care. Whenever my teachers tried to wheedle information from me about our domestic arrangements, alarm bells would start to ring in my head. For me it was definitely a case of ‘better the devil you know’. Somehow, we managed to fend off social services on the odd occasion they tried to intervene. Fortuitously (at least, I thought so at the time), they only ever seemed to call when Mum was having a relatively settled period.

I remember being taunted at school, the horrible things the other children used to say about her. Although I had learned basic hygiene, I suppose I was still scruffy, the kid in second-hand clothes; the one the others looked down on. Over time, I became hardened to their jibes and could shrug it off when they sniggered and called me names, mocking my neglected appearance, but when they said my mum was a mad cow, it really hurt.

In my hormonal state now, I often found myself on the verge of tears, and began to well up at the memory. Lucy must have realised from my expression that I was getting upset for some reason, and hurriedly changed the subject.

‘When are you due? Your bump’s very small – I think I’m having a baby hippo. I’m only six and a half months gone and already I feel like a beached whale.’

‘Oh, come on, you’re not that huge! I think it’s normal to get bigger more quickly with your second, anyway. I’m not due until late October, so I think you’re a bit further along than me.’

‘Hmm – but not much.’ She poked a finger into her stomach, which sank like dough. ‘I’m hoping a lot of it’s water – don’t fancy squeezing out anything bigger than Alfie was – it stung a bit, I can tell you!’ She laughed. ‘Ignore me – I don’t want to put you off. They throw everything at you these days, painkiller-wise. I’m telling you, take whatever you can – my cousin had an epidural and she said it was a breeze after her first, when she’d had one of those daft “natural” births. I’m definitely having the works this time. Why anyone wants to go through the pain when you don’t have to is beyond me.’