For the first time, I opened up. I told Jemma the full details about how we met and how grateful I was to Jack for not letting me pull out. I talked about her passion for surfing and how she got me hooked, about buying the campervan and the dream we had of touring round the UK and visiting all the best surfing spots, our engagement, our wedding plans. And the day she dropped to the sand clutching her head and drew her last breath, cradled in my arms. My voice broke at that part and I had to blink back the tears. A loud sniff broke me from the vivid memory and I glanced at Jemma to see tears cascading down her cheeks again. She placed her hand gently on my arm as I concentrated on the road and on keeping my own emotions in check.

‘I’m so sorry, Sam,’ she whispered. ‘I can’t even begin to imagine how terrifying that must have been.’

‘I remember people running towards us and me screaming out “somebody call an ambulance” but I knew it was too late. I begged her to stay with me but she was already gone. There was nothing that I or anyone else could have done to prevent it and, as Jack kept telling me afterwards, I had to keep focusing on the fact that I was with her, holding her, when she could easily have been alone. At the time, that didn’t feel comforting because seeing the woman you love dying in front of your eyes is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but I understand now what he meant by it and, while I obviously wish that it had never happened, I’m glad that I was with her when it did.’

‘I wish I’d known her. She sounds like someone I’d have been friends with.’

‘I think you would have been. I think she was a closet… what’s that word?’

‘What word?’

‘For people who love bears.’

‘Arctophile.’

‘That’s it. Strange word. It sounds rude.’

Jemma laughed. ‘I know. It comes from the Greek words arctos meaning bear and philos meaning loving, so a lover or collector of bears is an arctophile.’

‘Get you, Mrs Knowledgeable.’

She laughed again. ‘Only about bears. Put me on a quiz team and I’m a liability.’ She rummaged in her pocket for a tissue, blew her nose, and mopped her cheeks. ‘You really think Nikki could have been an arctophile?’

‘Judging by how long we spent in Bear With Me when we collected our surfer bear and how she kept pointing out which ones she liked best if I was ever stuck for birthday or Christmas gift ideas, I think so.’

Jemma was silent for a moment. ‘You said you were on North Bay beach?’

‘Yeah. Right at the north end just before the rock pools.’

‘That’s my favourite part.’