‘Sorry, Sash. That’s the last thing I should have led with. You know me, always the problem solver.’

‘No, it’s fine. As much as it’s the most mortifying thing that’s ever happened to me, and I feel utterly betrayed by my own mother, I want to talk about it. Means I can get it off my chest and just enjoy myself.’

We’re interrupted momentarily by the waiter bringing our drinks. We thank him, then continue our conversation.

‘So how are things then?’ I repeat my original question.

‘They’re… weird. She has no idea I saw her. She’s just acting the same, but now I know she’s putting it on, I’m starting to see that she’s a blinking good actress. She could have gotten a role on River City.’

‘It’s all a bit ironic really. She’s putting an incredible amount of effort into making sure she doesn’t have to do anything.’

‘Exactly. Now every time I’m in her flat, I’m getting flashbacks to that day. I want to have it out with her, but every time I get close to forming the words, my legs turn to jelly and it’s like I’m going to hyperventilate.’

Sasha looks so morose about this, I feel a burst of anger at her mum that I have to swallow down. ‘You’re anxious about it, I understand that, Sash. Your whole world has been chucked up in the air. I tell you, your mum’s lucky I’m not living in Glasgow any more because I’d have been round there by now.’

‘I know you would have.’ She plays absently with her straw. ‘I kind of wish you would…’

‘I’ll do it over the phone if you want?’

Sasha shakes her head miserably. ‘No, Lex. Thank you. What I was about to say was that I kind of wish you would, but this is my problem to solve. I just need your help to do it.’

‘Well you’ve got it.’ I take her hand across the table and give it a squeeze. ‘I’ll help you figure out how to deal with this – in a way that won’t leave you racked with guilt, because I know what you’re like.’

Our food arrives and we dig into our steaming, aromatic dishes. Mine, a portion of delicious deep-fried pork and prawn spring rolls, and a large bowl of pho noodle soup. Sasha has ordered fresh, herby prawn summer rolls and a chicken noodle curry dish, from which wafts of coconut and lemongrass keep teasing my nostrils.

‘You’re settling in well then?’ Sasha’s not so much asking as prompting me to tell her more.

‘Yeah, I’m loving it here, Sash. Not just because I can be me again – that’s obviously a massive part of it – but also because it’s just so me. It’s fast-paced, busy, lively. And diverse. I feel like I could never not fit in here, if that makes any sense?’

Sasha wrinkles her nose. ‘Not yet. Hopefully by the end of the weekend though.’

‘I hope so too.’ I pause as a thought comes to me. ‘Actually, Sash, I want to apologise to you.’