Instead of going to the master suite she walked back down to the kitchen and opened the fridge. It was fully stocked, as she’d requested. She opened cupboards, checking that they’d delivered what she’d asked. There was enough food to ensure she wouldn’t have to leave this place for at least a week, maybe two. After that—well, she’d face that problem later.

Exhaustion made her feel shivery and cold, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Her mind was like a drone, gliding over two decades of her life and more, sending inconvenient snapshots.

She grabbed a sweater and stepped out onto the terrace. The house might have changed, but the view hadn’t and neither had the scents. Lavender and rose, the sharp hint of pine mingling with salt spray from the ocean below.

She followed the path to the beach, but instead of walking onto the sand she scrambled up onto one of the rocks that sheltered the bay. It was still early. No one would see her, because no one would be looking for her here. Not yet.

She hugged her knees against her chest and gazed at the water. Beyond the level of the rocks the swirl of currents made the water dangerous. Guests using the place were advised to sunbathe only and use the pool or the main beach at Silver Point for swimming and water fun, but Joanna had no intention of doing that. She’d grown up here. She knew the risks and she was a strong swimmer.

She stretched out her legs, enjoying the early-morning sun. At this time of day she didn’t have to worry about burning.

At school she’d been teased for her freckles, but she’d never cared because her dad had always told her they were fairy dust, and only given to special people. He’d had the same dusting, as faint as a sprinkling of sand, and after he died she used to look in the mirror and imagine that a part of him had landed on her. It made her feel closer to him, knowing she was carrying them around.

She stared down at the white-capped ocean that swirled and smashed against the rocks, sending spray flying high. Often the view was blurred by the milky layer of marine fog that blanketed the California coastline in the early summer mornings, but today was clear and sunny.

She glanced behind her toward the main beach that stretched the length of Silver Point and saw a small figure far in the distance, running on the beach. Mel?