happens. A couple of dates and you’ll probably be done, just keep it friendly and everything will be fine.’
‘Now you sound jaded.’
‘I do, don’t I?’ I reflect.
‘It’s not that easy, Seren, and I don’t know what to do about it. What I do know is that the moment we first met, I looked at Alex, he looked at me and there was something. I mean, something there between us. Like we’d met before. There was a connection.’
‘Can you hear yourself, Judi? It’s called instant attraction and it usually doesn’t last very long.’
‘But what if that isn’t the case and he’s the one?’
She has a point, but how on earth would I know?
‘Well, it’s time to woman-up. Take a deep breath, calm yourself down and then accept the job offer. It’s not as if you’ll be with him every minute of the working day, is it?’
She pauses for thought, raising an eyebrow as if she’s weighing it up very carefully. ‘No.’
‘To begin with you’ll be a little cautious around each other, but everyone – him included – will assume it’s because you’re settling into a new role, with a new boss. Your back is covered as long as you hold it together.’
‘But what if I can’t hide how I feel?’
I roll my eyes. ‘You’ll soon get to see his flaws and start looking at him in a different light. No one is perfect, trust me. And when it comes to work, once you’re sitting at your new desk, there will be no stopping you and he’s going to be impressed. He won’t want to risk losing your skills if he’s trying to make his mark.’
‘Thanks. I guess you’re right. It’s difficult not having you around. I needed that little pep talk as I’ve been stressing over this big time. Anyway, how about you? Have you been in touch with your parents since you’ve been back?’
‘I’ve been emailing Mum, but there’s not a lot to say right now.’
‘Seren, emailing her, really?’ Judi makes it sound like an accusation, but I ignore it. ‘And how is Lisbon?’
‘It beautiful, vibrant and busy. My new life is everything I hoped it would be. Coming back after Christmas made me realise that I am beginning to feel at home here. I love this little place I’m renting. My neighbour, Maria Santos, is a delight. Her English is much better than my Portuguese, thankfully. Her daughter-in-law, who was born in Surrey, and her grandson live with her, and they are both bilingual. She doesn’t mention her son, but I get the impression that he died. I do miss… well, I miss my bestie and meeting up with friends to hang out.’
‘Oh, me, too. It was a brave decision to make, and I don’t know if I would have had the guts to face the upheaval. It takes time to get to know people, longer when you come from a totally different culture. Is there anyone you’ve managed to become friendly with, I mean, outside of work?’
I can hear concern in her voice.
‘I’ve been working closely with the gallery’s publicity manager, Carolina. We have quite a bit in common. She’s single and ambitious, too, and she’s about our age – thirty-two, I think. She also lives in Almada, about a ten-minute walk from where I’m renting, and we often travel into work together.’
‘Well, that’s a good start. I can’t even imagine what it’s like for you now. Sometimes it still doesn’t feel real, you know, that you have this whole new life going on.’
‘When you fly over for your first visit, think of the fun we’ll have. By then I’ll know my way around properly and I’ll be able to give you the tour like a local. You will utterly and completely fall in love with Lisbon, I promise.’
‘Please do not mention the L word.’ She sighs. ‘And the job is going well?’
I feel an immense sense of satisfaction wash over me as I realise that this is the happiest I’ve felt in a very long time. Admittedly, I do have moments when loneliness creeps up on me without warning, but I think it’s more akin to homesickness. The one thing I do know for sure, is that I have no yearning to go back to my old life and no regrets. ‘In June it’s the fifth anniversary of the opening of the gallery. My proposals to mark the occasion are being considered by the directors and I’m waiting for their decision. I am nervous about it. It’s