I didn’t order a drink at the posh bar, although I did have a wander around Chanel, then Gucci, not paying much attention, just killing time, really, to give Jack some space. Rather than go looking for him in the pub, I waited for him at the gate. When the final call was announced, he stumbled up, beaming from ear to ear, flaunting his overbearing charm at the ground staff. My sober state was probably the only reason he was allowed onto the plane. Disappointed as I was not to have enjoyed an airport drink or three with him, I was glad he was buzzing, humming ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ as he slotted his hand luggage into the overhead compartment.

‘I need the aisle seat,’ Jack informed me; his first direct words to me since he’d left me alone in the terminal.

‘No problem,’ I said.

‘Excuse me, darlin’?’ he asked, and I thought he was addressing me, but a stunning member of the Thai Airways cabin crew came to his beck and call and he politely stumbled through his words from his seat, asking her for a double JD neat. ‘I’m – a – ma – ma – v-very nervous fly – flyer.’

Between the passengers getting settled and the plane starting to taxi, Jack went to the loo about five times. Considering his size, this was, more often than not, a right hoo-hah. The cabin crew remained calm, although they were clearly agitated by him. Once we took off (which was not the hand-holding, flying off into the sunset moment I’d anticipated), he called for a crew member to give him a pep talk. And another double JD, pronto. As the crew member spoke softly about the safety of flying, I placed my hand upon his arm, but he flicked me away like he was fending off a wasp. I tried not to take it personally. When the drinks trolley came around I ordered a little bottle of white wine. A few sips helped me to relax. Three little bottles later and I was laughing my head off to a comedy starring Amy Schumer, and Jack was asleep with his head on my shoulder. He woke up in a sweet, cuddly mood without a single mention of his phobia. I didn’t dare bring it up, so it was forgotten. Until now.

‘Go on,’ Jack urges me as I stand alone by the caviar. ‘Get yourself a glass of bubbly.’