Lunch was fabulous, scallops for me and cod and chorizo for Jon, and we chatted easily about the view, landmarks and places to visit.

After lunch, we walked along the riverside to Westminster and took the boat with a small crowd who were waiting there. I felt slightly giddy from the champagne and laughed at the tour guide’s banter about the history of the area as the boat took off towards Greenwich.

‘So much water under the bridge,’ I said as we sailed under Tower Bridge.

‘Funny,’ said Jon.

‘But true. This was one of regular trips I did with an ex many moons ago.’ I told him about how Graham and I loved to be tourists in London, and he reached out and squeezed my hand when he realized that Graham had died.

When we landed in Greenwich, we passed The Cutty Sark, looked around the Royal Naval College then browsed bookshops, junk yards, then the market, where I bought a scarf for Heather and lavender bath lotion for Marcia. Jon was easy company, informed about the area, and I found myself looking at him a few times wondering if he was serious about us having a relationship.

‘I don’t know why I haven’t done this for so many years,’ I said as we made our way to the station to get the train back. ‘I always felt like I was coming to a different country when I came to Greenwich, yet it’s so near to London.’

‘Maybe we could be tourists in London,’ said Jon. ‘I like that idea.’

*

On the train home, I found myself dozing off; before I knew it, we were back in the city and in a cab heading for Marcia and Pete’s.

When we arrived back at theirs, Jon asked the cab driver to wait, then got out and came round to my side to open the door to let me out.

‘It has been a perfect day,’ I said. ‘And please can I contribute?’

‘Absolutely not. My treat. Think of it as a late birthday present.’

‘You’ve been very generous.’

‘I am hoping there will be more days like this,’ he said.

As we stood on the pavement, he leant over and kissed me lightly on the forehead then got back into the cab. ‘I’ll be in touch,’ he said, then grinned. ‘I could invite you home and in for a drink but I don’t want to crowd you.’

‘I appreciate that and it’s been wonderful. A day to remember.’

‘I meant what I said about wanting us to work. I sense you’re a woman who likes company but also likes her space. I will try to respect that by giving you time to come round to the idea of us as a couple. In the meantime, you can rest assured that I really have changed, my wild days are over, and I shall be waiting for you.’