‘I’m quite glad I’m not a romantic in that case,’ said Hannah. ‘I haven’t been out with anyone for ages and I certainly haven’t ever been heartbroken.’ Was that because she was too practical and sensible? She finished with most blokes before they were able to inflict any emotional damage; she didn’t gave them the chance. If they didn’t measure up quite quickly she didn’t see the point of keeping on seeing them. ‘I can’t see the point of going out with someone if you know they’re not right.’

‘How long do you give them?’ asked Meredith, with interest.

Hannah lifted her shoulders. ‘You can usually tell after one date.’

‘Hannah! You’ve got to give them a chance,’ protested Meredith, which was somewhat ironic given what she’d said about her ex-husband. ‘What’s the longest you’ve been out with someone?’

‘What, properly?’

‘What’s not properly?’

‘Well, you know, when you’re a teenager. I went out with Richard Bradley in the sixth form for nearly six months but only because we all ran around in the same crowd.’

‘No one longer than that?’ asked Meredith with round eyes. ‘How old are you?’

‘Twenty-seven.’

‘So what is the longest you’ve been out with anyone since then?’

‘Five months.’

‘And what happened to him?’

‘I quite liked him but he got a transfer to London and… well, there didn’t seem much point starting a long-distance relationship.’

‘You didn’t fancy going to London?’

‘It just seemed like a big step. What if it hadn’t worked out?’

‘If it hadn’t worked out, you pick yourself up and you make the best of things,’ said Meredith. ‘I knew in my heart of hearts that I was taking a risk marrying Darren, but if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have my two girls and they definitely were worth the risk.’

‘Yeah,’ agreed Izzy. ‘Sometimes you have to go for it. If I hadn’t followed Philip to Edinburgh, I wouldn’t have ended up living there and working at the Festival which was the best job ever, and I made so many brilliant friends and I loved living in the city. It’s one of the best in the world. So although it didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, it was still worth taking the chance.’

Hannah nodded, not believing either of them. Look what had happened in Dublin. If she’d played it safe, she wouldn’t be in this horribly awkward situation with Conor where every time she saw him she wanted to die of mortification.

‘Is that your phone, Hannah?’ asked Izzy suddenly as a mobile began to ring.