We’ve arranged to meet my mother, John and Carol for Sunday lunch at the Art Lover’s Cafe out at Bellahouston Park, my intention being to prevent them kicking off Glasgow-style when I break my news.

Sasha and I park the car at the back of the house and amble through the well-manicured gardens towards the beautiful iconic white building, designed by the late Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It’s one of my favourite places to visit, with its lavishly detailed interior design. So much so that Dom and I had actually considered it as a wedding venue, until the wedding coordinator told us they couldn’t cater for our numbers.

As this memory develops in full technicolour in my mind, my body reacts with an emotionally charged lump in my throat and an anguished tug at my heart, a feeling I’ve become too familiar with since our split. I place a hand on my chest, take a deep shaky breath to calm the swelling feeling of loss, and draw my focus back to what today is about.

‘You OK, Lex?’

I feel Sasha’s concerned eyes on me. ‘Yes, fine. I just love this place. Always gets me, you know?’

‘I do.’ Sasha appears convinced by my answer, her eyes following my gaze towards the building. ‘It really is one of Glasgow’s special places.’

The thunderstorms of the previous day have freshened the air, and the late July sunshine sporadically peeks through from behind light wispy clouds. Despite a drop in temperature, we’re still comfortable in our short sleeves and cropped trousers, so with ten minutes to spare, we grab a seat on a bench to enjoy the warmth on our faces.

‘Thanks again for this, Sash. I know I’ve put you in a bit of a position on this one.’

‘It’s fine.’ She looks at me from behind her green-rimmed oversized sunglasses. Her flaming red hair looks almost alight from the way the sun is catching it. ‘I may not like it, but I kind of get it.’

‘I appreciate that.’ I suddenly feel a bit guilty for having gotten so irritated by Sasha’s overbearing support over the last few months.

‘Anyway, I’ve already started looking for jobs in Birmingham and there are tons of options. Maybe this is what we both need. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to pack up and move somewhere else, but I’ve been too scared. Doing it together makes it seem easier.’

‘That’s good,’ I say automatically.

The guilt immediately dissipates. Despite me knowing Sasha won’t follow through on this, I realise it could become exhausting, very quickly. Probably more so because I know it will all be for nothing and she’ll eventually find a reason to back out (her mum being an obvious and quite genuine one).

We sit quietly for a few more minutes, enjoying the sun, until our zen is obliterated by the arrival of my mother and sister with John in tow.

‘There they are. Hey, wee sis!’ Carol’s high-pitched voice carries right across the gardens from the car park.