Unable to face the rest of my lunch, I grabbed a coffee and headed back to my office instead. I pictured Jemma back in Whitsborough Bay with the squawk of gulls, the smell of salt in the air, and the stunning views of coast and countryside. Christ, I missed that. I missed the thrill of riding a wave, and the tranquillity of bobbing on my board in calmer seas. And I missed my family.

Back in my office, I called Mum.

‘Sammy? Is everything okay?’ The worry in her voice was obvious and I knew immediately it was because I never called her. Crap son. We’d always been close but I’d pushed her – and everyone else – away since Nikki died. I needed to rectify that.

‘I’m fine. I was wondering if you and Dad had any plans this weekend.’

‘Nothing much. Usual stuff. Bit of shopping. Jack and Millie’s for Sunday lunch. Why?’

‘I thought I might come home for the weekend. Would it be okay to stay with you?’

‘That would be wonderful, Sammy. You know you’re welcome any time.’

‘I don’t know if I’ll come up on Friday or Saturday yet but I’ll let you know later.’

‘Will you stay for Sunday lunch? Shall I phone Jack for you?’

‘It’s okay. I’ll phone him. I owe him a call.’

Jemma opened the door to her flat just after 7 p.m. and immediately hugged me. She held onto me tightly and I found myself doing the same. It was weird how quickly we’d formed an intense connection which made the idea of her leaving even more unpalatable.

‘Thanks for coming round at such short notice,’ she said when we parted.

‘It was tricky but I managed to clear my diary. I wasn’t really in the mood for dinner with the Mayor, a Royal Box at the theatre, and a private viewing of the latest Damien Hirst collection with the artist himself. They all begged me not to cancel but it’s tough when you have such a demanding social life like me.’

Jemma raised an eyebrow. ‘Ready meal for one and a Game of Thrones box set?’

‘Am I that transparent?’

She laughed as she led me to the lounge. ‘Drink?’

I sat down on the sofa. ‘Lager if you’ve got one.’

‘I have.’ She raised her voice. ‘Leah, Tiff, Drew! Sam’s here. Time to order pizza.’

The flat became chaotic as they joined us, debating over what to order. Drew shook my hand as soon as he appeared and apologised for the previous week, but I told him not to worry about it.

‘I still think you look like Thor,’ he said. ‘Don’t you, Jem?’

I caught Jemma’s eye and she nodded as though she understood that there was a connection to Nikki, even though I hadn’t yet explained it.