Too many people follow their own happiness without a thought for the damage they leave in their wake.

“Congratulations,” I said, nodding toward her belly. I wanted to say something else, but I could never work out whether it was appropriate to say a heavily pregnant woman was “large,” “not large,” “neat,” “blooming,” or any of the other euphemisms people seemed to use to disguise what they wanted to say, which was essentially along the lines of bloody hell.

“I know it is.” I rest my hand on the top of her head, and her eyes blink heavily. She is only seven, but for the first time she looks old.