The cavernous house instantly feels more like a small cottage with the addition of five adults and two children. Molly's daughters run through every room, leaving a trail of sticky Cheerios wherever they go as the partially closed snack container cannot adequately contain the cereal. Their laughter as they chase each other, stopping to stare at different sculptures and artwork, is of the high-pitched giggle variety. Upon being released from the car, they had both made a beeline for "HARRRRRYYYYY!", jumping on him until he picked up the youngest to hold and hugged the older one to his side.

I swear my ovaries jump, but perhaps it's just the foetus reminding Harry that he's going to have his own child to worry about.

Harry Lambert removes his sunnies the moment he steps inside, his gaze wandering the interior of the space panoramically – first at eye level and then while focused on the ceiling and second floor.

"Call me Sue, love! It's the only way to tell us apart!" He chortles as he grabs a suitcase and races up the stairs to the left. He makes me laugh instantly, and I can understand why Harry cares about him so much. A few seconds later, I hear Sue faintly calling, "I'm claiming this room!"

Jeffrey, who I had previously met briefly, gives me a tight hug, taking me by surprise. It's not like we're friends, but perhaps this is how he greets everyone?

"My wife, Glenne" is all he says before he disengages from me and carries two suitcases upstairs with him, his baseball cap pulled low over his brow, his athletic legs pumping as he tackles the stairs two at a time.

"Hi." The woman smiles at me as she removes her sunglasses and blinks at the opulence of the house. "Not a bad place."

"Agreed." I attempt some small talk, but I've no idea how to engage with this woman. She's stunningly beautiful. Her pantsuit isn't even wrinkled, and I know they've just flown in from America via London. She must be exhausted, yet nothing of that feeling is expressed on her face.

I feel inferior.

"Congratulations." Gesturing to my clearly outlined bump, Glenne smiles politely. "Jeff and I have been trying off and on for a few years." With a cursory glance away from me, she grimaces before cheerily adding, "Oh, well. It's not the end of the world."

Instantly, my inferiority complex disappears. I am guilt-ridden for wearing a dress that accentuates my pregnancy. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"Well..." Lost, I gesture at my stomach, trailing off my sentence with, "I mean..."

She grasps my hand and laughs, "Please don't worry! I get frustrated sometimes, but that doesn't mean I'm not happy for others. Harry is so excited for this baby. It's not your fault that we haven't gotten pregnant. One of these days, we'll decide to either give up trying, or we'll adopt, or we'll go for IVF. None of that is connected to you and Harry, and I am so sorry that my response made you feel like you don't have a right to be happy."

It's a strange conversation to have with someone you've just met. Although I want to hug her, I'm not sure she's the type who would enjoy physical touch or see it as a comfort.

If you don't ask, you don't know.

"Glenne, I know we've just met, but I feel an urge to hug you."

"Because you feel sorry for me?"

"Because I thought maybe you could use one right now."

Opening her arms, she laughs. "What an admittedly bizarre initial conversation. Let's blame it on jetlag, shall we?"

"Oh, no," I protest, "Let's blame it on pregnancy hormones."

Glenne smiles broadly, "I have a feeling we're going to become fast friends."

Stepping into her embrace, I hug her tightly. "That sounds great!"

Harry's voice booms from behind us, "Trying to steal my girl, Glenne?"

"Maybe," she hedges, releasing me. "If I weren't a married woman. After all, she's quite captivating. And very, very kind."

"You won't hear me arguing with either of those." He wraps his arm around my back, steering me slightly towards the door as I glimpse Glenne taking the opportunity to head up the stairs. "This is my creative director, Molly, and her husband Zach. You've already seen their two demons, Georgie and Pearl, tearing through the house."

Shaking hands with the couple, I attempt to shift my voice so that it's less rude than my words. "I'm surprised you've brought your daughters with you." I'm simply puzzled by the addition of two young girls to an environment that's supposed to be about work. Molly's eyes widen, and I want to kick myself for speaking up at all. "Goodness! That was a very insensitive thing to say. Can I blame it on pregnancy brain?"

Her eyes crinkle, and her tiny button nose snorts as she laughs so hard that she throws her head back and howls. Astonished at her reaction, I rear my head, confused and a little hurt. She clutches Harry's arm, smiling up at him, and I'm sure the freckles on her cheeks dance.

"I like her," Molly tells Harry. "She says what's on her mind."

"True," my boyfriend replies, his indulgent dimple deepening. "The best part is when she belts out fitting lyrics instead."

"That must be fun!" Twisting to me, Molly quickly wraps me in a hug. "Do not feel awkward, Dr. Anna. I've heard so much about you that I assumed you had heard an equal amount about me. Clearly, Harry has other things on his mind than talking about me when he's with you." She grabs the hand of her youngest who has chosen this moment to grasp at her mum's legs. Picking up the child, Molly shakes her head at the Cheerio-covered finger extended towards her mouth. "No, thank you. This is Pearl, and she's a ball of energy, especially after really long plane rides. I try to bring the family with me when a trip is going to be longer than a few days. Zach is their primary caregiver, but I don't want to miss out on any of their milestone moments, you know?"

"I completely understand, or I suspect I will in a few months if I don't fully get it now." Rubbing my hand over my protruding belly, I smile. "Thank you for being so gracious when I was boorish."

"Nonsense!" She slaps me lightly on the arm as she makes her way to the stairs. "You should always say what you're thinking around me. We'll get along much better if you do!" Turning her attention to her daughter, she tweaks the child's nose. "Now where did Georgie get to? We need to pick out our rooms and get you settled in for a nap. Georgie?!" Her husband nods to me before following his wife up the stairs.

"Oh good Lord," I groan, planting my face into Harry's shirt. "I have made a mess of my first impressions. All of your friends must think I'm churlish."

"Don't be silly. I'm confident you've already endeared yourself to each of them."

Despite his assurances, I remind myself to shape up and be more aware of the words coming out of my mouth. Apparently I mutter the words aloud.

Harry chuckles, the sound warm and reassuring against my ear. "Glenne seems to have understood where you were coming from. She doesn't take things personally, and honestly, I think she appreciates your openness. It's a refreshing change from the usual 'yes men' she's surrounded by in her work."

"But what about Molly?" I peek at him, my voice muffled by his shirt. "She seemed genuinely surprised by my rudeness."

"Molly's a force of nature," Harry replies, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "She wears her heart on her sleeve and expects the same from those around her. You asking the question probably caught her off guard, but trust me, she'll get over it."

Lifting my head, I meet his gaze. "So, what exactly do I need to know about everyone? A crash course in Harry House etiquette?"

Harry chuckles. "Alright, here's the rundown. Jeffrey, the one who barely spoke, is my manager. He's my rock, my voice of reason, and the one who keeps me grounded. Glenne's an executive at Apple Music in charge of Artist Partnerships."

"And Molly?"

"Molly's..." Harry hesitates, searching for the right words. "She's the creative heart of tour and Pleasing. She can take a half-baked idea and turn it into marketing gold. She's also incredibly loyal and fiercely protective of those she cares about. And Sue – well, Sue is the best stylist out there, but he's also wildly creative and unique. Just be yourself, Anna. That's all that matters."

Taking a deep breath, I nod. "Alright, etiquette noted. Be myself and try not to offend anyone else."

The afternoon unfolds in a flurry of activity. Our light lunch is a chaotic affair, eaten around the sprawling island in the kitchen as Harry pulls out a variety of veg and everyone crafts their own salad. I learn that Jeffrey, despite his taciturn nature, has a surprisingly dry wit, and Glenne can hold her own in a debate about anything from cryptocurrency to the latest celebrity scandal.

As the day progresses, I find myself drawn most to Molly. Her laugh is infectious, and her energy is boundless. She juggles parenting duties with brainstorming marketing ideas with Harry and Sue, all while somehow managing to resemble a mischievous pixie.

Sue is decidedly the rambunctious one, and he bustles around the house exclaiming over the decor – both positive and otherwise. Surveying my body from head to toe, he nods approvingly. "Pregnant women used to have to hide their bodies in frumpy shirts and muumuus. I'm so relieved that fashion has embraced the pregnant body. It's..."

"Sexy?" Harry offers.

"Sure," Sue hedges. "Let's go with that."

The kitchen fills with laughter, and soon the girls are awake and demanding mac and cheese which Zach prepares for them on the cooker. It's not much later that the girls, fueled by pasta and endless energy, stage an impromptu dance recital in the ballroom, their uncoordinated movements a source of endless amusement for everyone. Harry, ever the entertainer, joins in, his goofy moves drawing squeals of delight from the children.

In the afternoon, everyone separates into smaller groups. Sue and Molly hole up in the library, reviewing some designs while Zach prepares to take the girls out to play in the garden.

"I have two daughters," Molly warns before she closes the library door, "and I better have two daughters who return from that maze!"

Zach pouts. "Do they have to be the same two?"

"DADDY!" Georgie squeals, giggling.

Jeffrey and Glenne yawn convincingly, making their excuses. "Jetlag is the worst. I know it's bad form to nap when you're supposed to just push through, but we're getting old, mate." Jeffrey claps Harry on the shoulder, smiling at me. "We'll be awake before you leave."

Efficiently, Harry and I partner to clean the kitchen, putting away the veg in the fridge while we chat about mundane things. Our paths cross multiple times, and during one of those times, Harry grabs me around the waist, hauling me to him.

"I wish we'd made love this morning," he growls.

"But you'll be home tomorrow night," I remind him. "And we'll maybe have the whole house to ourselves if we play our cards right." My eyebrows waggle in his vicinity, and he chuckles.

"Yep. Just you, me, the baby, and the pups."

His reminder of my dogs causes the fun to dim, and I am embarrassed when tears well up.

"Hey. Don't cry, babe."

"You mean..." and I open my mouth, belting out the words, "Just stop your crying, it'll be alright?"

A pair of clapping hands startles me, and I turn around to spy Sue and Molly applauding my impromptu concert.

"Wanna see the potential stage design?" Molly inquires, and I'm confident my face lights up with the excitement I feel.

"Hell, yeah!" I exclaim, quickly washing my hands at the sink and drying them on a nearby towel.

"Wait! Before I see it?" Harry asks, eagerly putting the last of the dishes in the sink to wash later.

"Like you haven't already seen it a dozen times," Sue teases.

The library, a haven of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and plush armchairs, is where Molly and Sue have set up camp. Spread out on a large oak table in the centre of the room is a detailed model of the stage, swatches of fabric and sketches scattered around.

"Wow," I breathe, drawn in by the intricate details.

"Isn't it amazing?" Molly beams, her eyes sparkling with pride.

I trace the outline of the stage with my finger. "It's perfect. It really captures the family feel of this album."

Harry leans in, his arm brushing against mine. "See? You and Molly are kindred spirits. Both with a head for the creative."

A blush creeps up my cheeks, remembering my earlier faux pas. "Sorry again about that comment about bringing the girls."

Molly waves her hand dismissively. "Water under the bridge. It's a fair question. Balancing work and family is a constant struggle, but Zach and I make it work. Besides, having them around keeps me grounded. They remind us what this is all for – to create something magical, something that brings joy to people."

We spend the next hour poring over the model, dissecting every detail, Molly passionately explaining her vision.

As the afternoon sun begins to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows through the library windows, our stomachs rumble in unison.

"Alright team," Harry declares, clapping his hands together. "Time to refuel. I think the pub down the street is preparing a full roast for us. They should be here soon." As if on cue, the bell at the gate rings, and Harry withdraws his phone to let the caterers in.

"Perfect," Molly laughs, guiding me towards the door. "Let's go see if Zach and the girls have returned from their adventure in the hedge maze. Hopefully Jeffrey and Glenne aren't planning to sleep straight through."

The crisp evening air greets us as we step outside, the scent of freshly cut grass mingling with the distant aroma of woodsmoke. Laughter echoes from the direction of the maze, and a moment later, two figures emerge, giggling uncontrollably.

"There you are!" Molly calls out, happiness washing over her features. "Did you two manage to escape without getting lost?"

Georgie, her hair adorned with a haphazardly woven crown of wildflowers, grins. "We almost got eaten by a troll, but Daddy saved us!"

Zach, following closely behind with a sheepish grin, chuckles. "Don't worry, love. No trolls were harmed in the making of this adventure."

As we all return inside to the dining area as the caterers unpack, a warm sense of belonging settles over me. Despite the initial awkwardness, I feel a connection with these vibrant personalities, a sense of being part of something bigger than myself.

Too bad I have to head back to my reality tonight.