I’d been expecting something like this. Steeling myself for it, but that didn’t make it any less painful.

‘I’ve been offered a job. A travel consultant. I’d be travelling for months initially, but after that I’d be away regularly. There’s a decent salary. All expenses paid.’

There was so much I could have said, but I couldn’t say any of it. If I talked, I would cry and I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to ruin this for him. This was Adam’s dream and I needed to support it, support him, even if I wasn’t sure if this meal was a ‘goodbye’ or a ‘will you wait for me’.

‘It wasn’t a decision I took lightly. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but…’

I nodded that I understood. His eyes met mine and his were full of tears too. This wasn’t easy for him either.

‘I turned it down,’ he said quietly.

‘Why?’ My voice was a whisper.

‘Because travel was my dream but sometimes we have different dreams and now, Anna, it’s you. You’re all I ever wanted. Do want.’

‘But you said… you can’t do this anymore.’

‘No.’ He rose from his chair and walked to me. Crouched down and took my hand between his. ‘I don’t want a long-distance relationship anymore, Anna. I want your face to be the last thing I see before I go to sleep at night. Your voice to be the last thing I hear. I want you. Properly.’ He dropped one knee to the floor and before he had even pulled a ring out of his pocket, I was crying.

‘Anna Adlington, will you do me the greatest honour of becoming my wife?’

Perhaps if I could have frozen one perfect moment in time, it would have been that.

‘Yes.’ I launched myself into his arms and he fell backwards. ‘Yes!’ I covered his face in kisses. His hands were in my hair, his lips found mine. My fingers fumbled to undo his belt as he unzipped my dress. It was a good job Mum wasn’t coming home.

Later, upstairs, I snuggled under my quilt, raising my hand and splaying my fingers, smiling as the small diamond on my ring finger glinted under the lamplight.

‘Here.’ Adam passed me a plate of lemon meringue pie and climbed into bed beside me. ‘I’m afraid it’s cold, future Mrs Curtis.’

‘That’s okay. You’re pretty hot, future husband.’

I took a bite but I still didn’t have much of an appetite. I thought about the way my period was late. The sickness I felt. Adam and me hadn’t talked about having children, a family of our own. Our long-distance relationship had been so draining we hadn’t looked properly towards the future.