‘You made friends here, you can make friends there. Even if we don’t end up a couple, it’d be a fresh start. You could make something fantastic out of that. You could start your own restaurant there, and you’d be a big fish in a small pond.’

‘I’d have a child. How much time and energy do you think I’d really have to start a new business in an entirely new country? And what about money?’

‘You’d have me and my parents to help you out,’ he pointed out. ‘And our baby would have a dad. Isn’t that worth thinking about?’

‘That’s not fair.’

‘No, it’s not,’ he said, eyes flashing. ‘But then I don’t really see that there’s much about this situation that’s fair to me, either.’

‘Liam—’

He stood. ‘All I’m asking is that you think about it. Please? Tell me you’ll think about it.’

Anna raised her hands, a gesture of helplessness. ‘Okay. I will. I’ll think about it.’

‘Ah,’ said Cathy. ‘Have to say, I did not see that coming.’

Anna rubbed a hand over her eyes. ‘This is all such a mess. I can’t go. I can’t. It’s ridiculous of him to even suggest it. So why do I feel as if I’m being an arse for dismissing it out of hand?’

‘That’s the patriarchy talking,’ Cathy said. ‘That bit of every woman ingrained to believe they can’t make it without a man around.’

‘But what if I can’t?’

‘Pish,’ said her friend. ‘Besides, you will have men around, just not this one. If he’s so bent on taking responsibilities for his actions, if he wants to be an active part of his kid’s life, then he’s the one who’s going to have to make the tough decision, not you. You aren’t responsible for his parents, Anna, he is, and if it’s a choice between staying here and being a good father and going home and being a good son, that’s his problem, not yours.’

‘That’s harsh.’

‘It is. Also not your problem. Don’t let him make you think it is. If he was that bothered about it, he should have been more careful to be certain his wild oats were going to stay in his own field, shouldn’t he?’

‘I should never have come here,’ Anna muttered. ‘I should have done what you said and gone to Spain for a month.’

‘Well,’ said Cathy, ‘say it quietly, but I think I was wrong about that.’ Anna heard the rustle of paper and knew it was the copy of the Observer that her friend had on her lap. ‘Anna, this review is huge. It’s going to send you stratospheric. I can’t wait to see what happens next.’