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“And I’m more than happy to do so,” Dylan replied. “As long as you remember to keep taking those iron supplements.”

“Deal,” Lucy said.

They continued walking. “It’s really nice to be outside,” Lucy commented. “I definitely need to do it more. I have read the leaflets the midwives gave me, and I know how important it is to keep active when you’re pregnant. But since I’ve been pregnant, I’ve just been so exhausted by the time I close up the shop that going to the gym or something like that is the last thing on my mind. And I know I need to be careful with most forms of exercise.”

“True, but walking’s fine, and you do have a beautiful beach close by.”

“But it’s cold at the moment,” said Lucy with a smile, “and often wet.”

“So?” laughed Dylan. “You can get warm and dry again as soon as you get home.”

“That’s true.”

“I’m happy to come with you,” Dylan offered. “I’m not terrible company, I promise. We can go after you close up the coffee shop each day. Just for twenty minutes.” He checked her face for her reaction and quickly added, “It’ll be good for the baby.”

Lucy considered. She should go for a walk every day. And not only would it be more fun to go with Dylan than by herself, but she’d also be much more likely to do it if they were going together . . . What was going on with her? Was she actually signing up to spend yet more time with Dylan? It was for the baby though, she reassured herself.

“Sure,” she agreed. “We’ll start tomorrow. Just twenty minutes though.”

Lucy managed to stay awake for the second half of the car journey, but her queasiness soon returned.

“So . . . you don’t think your dad’s going to be mad with me, do you?” Dylan asked, as he turned into Upton.

“It’s a bit late to be worrying about that, isn’t it?” said Lucy. She looked over and laughed at the horror written all over Dylan’s face.

“I’m joking,” she assured him. “You’ll be quite safe.”

“That’s it on the left, you can park in front,”“ Lucy said, pointing to a small, semi-detached house with an estate car on its forecourt. There was space next to it and Dylan pulled up.

“OK,” he said, as he turned off the engine. “Are you ready?”

“Not really,” Lucy admitted, feeling butterflies swarming in her stomach. “But I can’t imagine there will be a better time. It’ll be worse if I just turn up in six months with a baby in tow.”

They stepped out of the car. Lucy took a grateful gulp of fresh air. She really didn’t feel great after that car journey.

“This is where you grew up, eh?” Dylan said, looking around.

“Yep,” replied Lucy, as the front door opened and her parents came out to greet them.

“Hello, darling,” said Lucy’s mother, coming over to give her daughter a hug. Looking at her mum was like imagining herself in thirty years; their bone structure and features were so similar. “And you must be Dylan,” she said, smiling at him.

“Yes,” he said. “Thank you for having me.”

“It’s our pleasure,” said Lucy’s father, putting his arm around his daughter. He was tall and thin, with grey hair, and eyes that seemed to promise mischief. “I’m Martin and this is my wife, Christine.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Dylan accepted Martin’s hand to shake.

“Let’s get inside,” said Christine. “It’s freezing out here.”

Christine and Martin led the way into their house, which was warm and welcoming. “Your home is lovely,” Dylan commented.

“Thank you,” said Christine. “I’m not sure if Lucy has told you, but we’re antique dealers, so the house is basically furnished with items we couldn’t sell.”

“And random items occasionally disappear, if we get an offer for them,” Martin laughed.

They took off their coats and hung them up and then followed Lucy’s parents through to the kitchen where lunch was cooking.

Lucy swallowed as the smell of the food hit at the same time as her nausea.