The Antwerp office was miles ahead of the aesthetic of the London lab. Glass-fronted with a swish lobby and an elevator that Jules assured me wasn’t out of order every other week like ours in London. It was sunnier there. Antwerp was a light jacket in spring instead of a damp overcoat in autumn which, if I was being unkind, London could often feel like. I’d got used to that, but maybe the cold months didn’t have to be a constant state of damp.

‘Luke!’ I squealed when we got to the research centre.

‘There she is!’

Luke used to work in London too, and had left about two years ago. We’d got on well, and I always enjoyed work events more if he was there.

‘It’s so good to see you,’ he commented. ‘How’ve you been? Surely your hunk of a fella must have put a ring on it by now? Adzo said last time she was here that you were wedding planning for the event of the century.’

‘Oh, actually – that ended,’ I replied, deliberately keeping my chin high. I felt Jules looking at me. ‘Happily so,’ I insisted. ‘It was time. University sweethearts don’t always have to end up together, I’ve learned.’

‘Oh,’ said Luke, screwing up his face in sympathy. ‘I’m sorry to hear it, but also – does that mean he’s on the market? I’ve never seen cheekbones so razor sharp outside of the movies!’

I rolled my eyes playfully and changed the subject to ask about the facilities and how he was finding the city. He told me he loved it – the culture, the work-life balance, and how easy it was to travel around the rest of mainland Europe.

‘I get home every few months, but to be honest my brother prefers coming out here with his wife when they can, and even my parents have got used to having an ungrateful traitor of a son who lives abroad. I see family maybe six times a year? I don’t think I saw them that much when we lived in the same country!’

I laughed, silently questioning what my parents would think if I told them I was moving out here before reminding myself that I didn’t care. Freddie would be old enough soon to come out on the train by herself, too, if somebody put her on in London and I collected her at this end. I’d miss being able to just pop in and see her, but if I wanted it I really could make it work. It wouldn’t necessarily be easy, but it could be done.