We sat on cushions on the slatted bench, which sagged a little beneath our weight, watching Kenny and the boys hard at work as we drank our tea and chatted. Despite the warm afternoon sun, it felt surprisingly cool, and I wrapped my arms about me, trying to rub the gooseflesh from my bare shoulders. A sudden thud from above startled me.

‘Oh my God – what on earth was that?’

Mrs Barley chuckled. ‘Oh, that’ll be my friend.’

I peered out of the window. At once, the same large, rather battered-looking crow I had seen before hopped down from the roof and landed in front of the doorway. It had a distinctive white flash on one wing. Tipping its head to one side, the bird stared up at me with curiously intelligent beady eyes.

‘I call him Corvus. He’s been visiting me for years. He must be almost fifteen now. He’ll be hoping for titbits, no doubt, but he’ll have to wait. Won’t you?’ The old woman addressed the bird who hopped closer and stood unnervingly just inside the door, watching her every move. Its movements were jerky and worryingly unpredictable. I shrank back in my seat, drawing my feet sharply beneath the bench and slopping tea into the saucer.

‘So, Stina, you don’t have any close family then?’ the old lady enquired casually as she buttered a scone.

I squirmed. Perhaps our lack of visitors had led her to arrive at this conclusion. ‘Not really. I lived with my great-aunt, but she passed away a few years ago. And Jack’s parents have emigrated to Spain, so we hardly ever see them.’

‘What a pity. They’ll miss out when the baby is born – and little ones grow up so quickly. What about friends? Is there anyone you can turn to for support if you need it?’

I sighed. ‘Unfortunately not. Reggie, my best friend, lives too far away and she travels abroad a lot with her job anyway. Jack doesn’t really have much to do with his brother, and most of his university mates settled in Scotland. We’re sort of on our own, really.’

Her eyes seemed to light up momentarily and I thought I detected the hint of a smile. She swatted away a fly that had landed on her plate and threw a handful of scone crumbs to the crow, who began to peck ravenously. His proximity was making me nervous.

‘Oh, that’s a shame.’ Her expression implied otherwise. She nodded towards my stomach. ‘What are you hoping to have?’

‘I really don’t care. A healthy baby is all I’m praying for. And Jack says the same.’