"i saw jude law in the street the other day," i add casually. "he lives quite close to us."

there's silence.

"or i guess i could swing by," danny says at last. "london's on the way to thailand, right?"

yes! i have total r.e.s.p.e.c.t.

for the rest of the day jasmine barely says a word, just keeps shooting me awed looks. and eric was totally impressed to hear that i'd made some "proactive advancement on the project," as he put it.

if only we had some customers, this job wouldn't be too bad after all. and on the plus side, the fact that we don't have anything to do has given me time to read my new issue of pregnancy magazine.

"hey, your phone's ringing in your bag," says jasmine as she comes from the reception area. "it's been ringing all day, actually."

"thanks for telling me!" i say sarcastically. i hurry to my desk, grab the phone, and click it on.

"becky!" comes mum's excited voice. "at last! so, darling. how was the famous celebrity obstetrician? we're all longing to know! janice has been in and out all day!"

"oh right. let me just..." i close the door and sit down on my desk chair, marshaling my thoughts. "well...it was amazing! guess what, i met a bond girl in the waiting room!"

"a bond girl!" mum draws in breath. "janice, did you hear that? becky met a bond girl in the waiting room!"

"and the place is lovely, and i'm going to have a holistic water birth, and they gave me this lovely welcome pack all full of spa vouchers...."

"how wonderful!" says mum. "and she's a nice lady, is she? the doctor?"

"very nice." i pause for a moment, then add casually, "she's luke's ex-girlfriend. isn't that a coincidence?"

"ex-girlfriend?" mum's voice sharpens a little. "what do you mean, ex-girlfriend?"

"you know! just someone he went out with ages ago. at cambridge."

there's silence down the phone.

"is she attractive?" says mum.

honestly.

"she's quite attractive. but i don't see what that has to do with anything."

"of course not, darling." there's a scuffly sort of pause, and i'm positive i can hear mum whispering something to janice. "do you know why she and luke split up?" she suddenly asks.

"no. i don't."

"haven't you asked him about it?"

"mum," i say, trying to keep my patience. "luke and i have a very secure, trusting marriage. i'm not going to quiz him, ok?"

what does she think i should do, issue luke a questionnaire? i mean, i know dad turned out to have had a slightly more colorful past than anyone might have suspected (affair with train stewardess; secret love child; handlebar mustache). but luke's not like that - i know he's not.

"and anyway, it was all ages ago," i add, sounding more defiant than i mean to. "and she's got a boyfriend."

"i don't know, becky love." mum exhales sharply. "are you sure this is a good idea? pregnancy can be a...tricky time for a man. what about going back to that nice gentleman doctor?"

i'm starting to feel a bit insulted here. what does mum think, that i can't hold on to my husband?

"we're with venetia carter now," i say obstinately. "it's all signed and sealed."

"oh well, darling. if you're sure. what's that, janice?" there's another scuffling at the other end. "janice says, was it halle berry you met?"

"no, it was the new one. the blond rollerblade champion. mum, i'd better go. i've got a call waiting. give my love to everyone. bye!" i switch off the phone, and a second later it rings again.

"bex! i've been trying you all day! how was it?" suze's excited voice peals down the line. "tell me everything. are you having the thai water birth?"

"maybe!" i can't help beaming. "oh, suze, it was fab! you get massage, and reflexology, and i met a bond girl, and there were paparazzi waiting outside and we got photographed together! we'll be in hello!"

"that's so cool!" suze's voice rises to a squeak. "god, i'm so jealous. i want another baby now, and have it there."

"you don't actually have it at the center," i explain. "you have all the appointments there, but she's linked to the cavendish hospital."