‘Thanks for reminding me.’ I peer around the table, trying to spot any discreetly placed birthday decorations. Dad knows I hate any kind of fuss on my birthday. ‘I’m glad to see you finally listened to my no-decorations rule.’

I catch the slight twinkle in his eye as he tries to suppress a smile.

‘What have you done? The whole reason I agreed to meet you here, and not the office, is to keep this low-key.’

My dad and I are co-directors of an office supply company and in years gone by he’s decorated my desk with balloons, banners and streamers, and there’s always a speech. I hate speeches.

The bell above the door of the café jangles, and in breezes Layla, one of our work colleagues, who over the years has become my best friend too. A waitress walks out from behind the counter with a tray of hot drinks and Layla nearly takes her out with the two pink foil helium number balloons that pop out from behind her.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she says, trying to wrestle the three and five under control. ‘Happy birthday, Edie.’

‘Did you forget to send Layla the no-fuss memo?’ Dad laughs, oblivious to my eye roll.

I grit my teeth, standing up to give her a hug, and she tucks the offending balloons around my chair.

‘No one is letting me forget how old I am today, are they?’

‘By the time you get to my age you need all the reminders you can get,’ says Dad, standing up. I can’t help but crack a smile, as, deep down, I know they’re only making a fuss because they care. ‘I’ll go order us some coffees; two flat whites?’

‘Perfect,’ Layla says, and I nod.

As Dad goes to queue for the drinks, Layla pulls out an expensive-looking box of chocolates and slides them over to me.

‘Thank you, you know you didn’t need to.’ She’d already given me her present when she took me on a fancy spa day at the weekend.

‘Couldn’t resist. Besides, I couldn’t show up empty-handed – I had to give you something on your actual birthday. Speaking of gifts, I’m dying to know what Miles got you!’

‘Oh, I don’t know yet, I’m not seeing him until tonight.’

‘Didn’t he sleep at yours last night?’

‘No, because I’m seeing him tonight.’

‘You two’ – she shakes her head – ‘there’s nothing to stop you seeing each other two nights in a row, you know.’

‘I know, but just because we’re having fun dating, doesn’t mean to say that we have to live in each other’s pockets. We both like having our own space, and seeing each other a couple of times a week suits us fine. Besides, a birthday is just another day.’