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Speaking of which, now that she had a due date and had been checked over by the midwives, it was time to tell her parents about her pregnancy. She knew her mum, in particular, would be thrilled to be becoming a grandparent, but it would definitely be a shock. She should do it in person. She could drive there on Sunday, if she wasn’t feeling too tired.

Chapter 7

Lucy opened up the coffee shop the next day and was serving her first customer, a young workman picking up strong teas and apple turnovers for the rest of his crew, when Dylan walked in, a laptop bag across his body.

“Oh hi,” she said.

“Hey, can I grab an Americano and a bacon roll, please?”

“To take away?”

“No, I’m going to work from here today.”

“Oh,” said Lucy, watching him head over to a table at the back of the shop and take a laptop out of his bag. How was she supposed to just ignore him sitting over there?

She took his order over to him when it was ready.

“Thanks. How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Still exhausted, bit nauseous . . .” Lucy replied.

“I’m right here if you need help with anything,” Dylan said. “Just give me a shout.”

Lucy eyed him suspiciously. What was he up to?

“Is your internet down or something?” she asked. “I’m sure Michael and Carrie would let you use theirs.”

“I’m quite happy here, thanks,” said Dylan, taking a sip of his coffee. “Delicious, as always,” he declared.

* * *

Dylan did indeed work from the coffee shop all day. Lucy had been right: it was very distracting having him there. She could feel him watching her, checking she was all right. A couple of times, he claimed he needed a break and wandered into the kitchen where he’d load the dishwasher (incorrectly, of course) or empty the bin (without putting in a new bin bag).

Jo thought he was just wonderful. “I can’t believe you’re having a baby with him!” she whispered, still ecstatic about being told the news after Lucy had got back from her midwife’s appointment. “He’s gorgeous and so sweet!”

“He’s something,” muttered Lucy to herself as she watched him flirt with yet another customer.

And then five minutes after Lucy opened up the following day, Dylan once again wandered in with his laptop bag.

“Good morning!” he said, so cheerfully that it made Lucy grimace.

“What’s so good about it?” she grumbled.

“Well, I’m about to have a lovely cup of tea and a blueberry muffin, so that will make it good,” he replied easily.

She brought his order over to where he’d set up his laptop on the same table as yesterday.

“What’s going on, Dylan?” she asked, as she placed the mug and plate in front of him.

“Nothing.”

“How long are you planning to keep coming here to work?”

“I don’t know,” Dylan said. “The company’s so delightful, it’s hard to stay away.”

“You’re taking up a table.”

Dylan did an exaggerated scan of the largely empty room. “Doesn’t seem like much of a problem.”