‘And you know what my mother did, for a living?’

‘Of course.’

‘The group, the protests.’

‘She was very proud of it.’

‘You didn’t mind?’

He laughed. ‘At times I think she felt rather disappointed in me.’

Eva could relate, though of course she wasn’t going to say that here. She did want to say something though, something kind, after how she’d spoken to him before.

‘I’m not disappointed in you,’ she said. ‘Yet,’ with a smile.

He shook his head a little.

‘You haven’t asked anything of me.’

‘But I’m going to.’

She thought he was about to speak, but he frowned instead and reached into his pocket, pulled out a phone. Selected the message that must have just arrived. Eva leaned over the table slightly, and then sat back ashamed. She couldn’t see it anyway.

‘Look, I think I have to go,’ he said. ‘They erm, sorry, they need me in the lab and I think I should—’

‘But you’ve only just arrived.’

He suddenly looked so nervous it made her doubt his sincerity again. What a strange, jittery man.

‘I have work … Things are very busy at the moment … Particularly busy and …’

There it was again. Although this time her thoughts ran in a different direction. They had perfected the pouch technology years ago – so what were all these scientists researching? The technology worked, it was fully legislated, had passed every trial and test for three generations, it was a completed success. It dawned on her, unpleasantly, that while she’d been trying to persuade people the pouch was a mistake, FullLife could have been developing any number of other technologies. What did they spend all their money on? Why exactly were they calling him back to the lab, on his lunch break?

He stood up to leave. ‘Really, there is so much I have to do.’

‘Like what?’ It came out too sharp.

He stepped away but paused, turned back to her, pushed his glasses up.

‘Sorry, I’m … Can we talk another time?’

‘Of course.’

‘Your mother, she was …’

‘Stay,’ Eva said, aware that her voice was softer now. ‘Just for lunch, James.’

‘I can’t. It is important research, I promise you. If you knew …’

‘Try me.’

‘Saturday would, erm … Are you free Saturday?’

The weekend. He’d be off work. Eva felt a spark of hope. ‘Tomorrow?’

‘Oh, yes, that’s tomorrow, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘Perhaps we could meet here tomorrow then, early …’

‘Here?’

Surely he’d want to get away from the birthing centre – they obviously didn’t want him talking to her.

‘Yes,’ he shrugged, looking around the cafe as if he thought he’d missed something distasteful. ‘It’s OK here, isn’t it?’