The thing was, is that I was supposed to be meeting Patrick.

Can I call you? I texted him from the waiting room as I waited for everyone else to arrive.

Yes, he said. Are you running late?

I took a sharp intake of breath and hit his name on screen.

‘Don’t be mad at me,’ I said when he answered. ‘But Jo just gave birth, so I’m at the hospital waiting to see her instead of on my way to you for pizza.’

‘Oh!’ he exclaimed. ‘She did? Well that’s amazing! Tell her hi from me!’

Relief coursed through me. I’d worried he’d be furious, but he was the exact opposite. He was … kind, and lovely.

‘You’re not mad?’ I asked.

‘I’m not mad that your best friend had her baby, no.’

‘I really wanted to see you.’

‘I really wanted to see you too.’

I couldn’t believe how wonderful he was. If I’d have stood Alexander up he’d have yelled, or made me feel small, or not understood why, on that occasion, Jo was more important than he was. But Patrick got it.

‘I’m not going to Antwerp,’ I blurted out. I couldn’t wait to tell him. ‘I thought you’d like to know that.’

I could hear his smile. ‘Annie, you don’t need to stay for me, you know.’

‘I know,’ I said. ‘I’m not.’

‘Charming.’

‘I just don’t want to put that on your shoulders. I’m staying for me. For Freddie. You’re a bonus.’

He didn’t say anything.

‘I found a flat,’ I continued. ‘Adzo found it for me. Third floor, small but I can afford it. Just down the road from you, actually. Dad is going to help me move at the weekend.’

‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘Can we just … did you say you’re not staying for me?’

‘I didn’t mean—’

‘What did you mean? Because it feels like you’re always trying to make it clear that I’m not anywhere near the top of your list, but you still say you want this. You can imagine how confusing that is, surely? It doesn’t feel very nice.’

God, he was so clear with his emotions. It was disarming. I was still getting used to acknowledging my feelings, let alone saying them out loud.

‘Look, let’s just wait until we can have that pizza,’ I begged. ‘Tomorrow?’

‘Next week,’ he replied, and I couldn’t pinpoint exactly where I’d screwed up the conversation, but I had. ‘Once you’ve finished packing, and you’ve moved. It’s fine. Maybe we did rush all this, Annie. I don’t know. I can’t do this if you’re not all in. Doubts are normal, but …’

Heat rushed to my face. ‘No,’ I said. ‘I’m staying. This can work. I did have doubts, but not anymore.’