‘How old are you?’

‘Nineteen. You?’

‘Twenty-four, although sometimes I feel more like fifty! Like I’m stuck in a rut I’ll probably chug along in until the day I retire. I do enjoy my job and I was lucky enough to inherit a little house, but the downside is that it ties me to the village I was born in. I really have nothing to complain about, but I sometimes feel like I haven’t achieved anything, struck out and done anything for myself yet, you know?’

‘Ah, but you said yet, so there’s still hope that you might!’

‘I suppose so. In theory, anyway.’

‘So, you didn’t go to uni either?’

She shook her head. ‘No excuses really. Mum and Dad would have supported me, and I did get the grades. But the thought of leaving home, leaving … well, the people I cared about. My gran wasn’t well and I wanted to be there for her. And I knew that when she passed away I wouldn’t have to worry about saving up for a home or trying to get a mortgage, and there was a perfectly good job already lined up and waiting for me …’

‘Sounds so easy. I wish someone would just give me a house and a decent job.’

‘Oh, God, I must sound so up myself. I know there are people worse off than me. Much worse off. And I’m sorry about the divorce, having to split yourself between two parents like that. Mine are stuck together like glue, rock solid, to the point of turning to stone. The classic happy family, although they stopped after having me and never made the regulation 2.4 children. Still, I know I should be grateful. I’d just like the chance to get out and spread my wings a bit now, that’s all.’

As she said the words, a swan opened its massive white wings wide and skittered across the water, and they both laughed.

‘There you are. If he can do it, so can you!’ Aaron lowered himself onto a patch of grass and reached for the camera. ‘Can I?’

‘Yeah, sure.’ She unhooked the strap from around her neck and handed him the camera, watching him balance it on his knees. ‘Do you know how …?’

‘Show me.’

Heads close together, Prue sat beside him and spent a few minutes explaining the workings of the camera and twisting at the lens, showing him how best to frame the shot and capture the right light.

‘You’re good at this, aren’t you?’ he said. ‘Show me some of your pictures.’

She scrolled through some of her recent shots, bringing them up on the screen for him to see.

‘I like this one. And I really love this …’

‘Thanks.’ Did he mean it or was he just being kind? She pulled away from him, suddenly feeling awkward at their closeness. ‘Ready to have a go now?’

‘Yeah, okay. Probably be rubbish though.’

‘There you go, putting yourself down again.’