They have decided to avoid the nearest beaches, the ones that can be reached on foot from the ferry and are therefore packed with young people and families with young children. Instead, they’re going to head over to the west side of the island to see if they can find an unoccupied cove. The sand is coarser there, and the sea deeper, which should increase the chance of solitude.

Karen drives along the narrow road hugging the north coast of the island, passing signs for Ooms. Turns off towards Haaver and slows down when the road narrows further. Despite her best efforts, she can’t help leaning forward to peer up at the villa she visited the week before. The square building reflects the sunlight, and she catches a quick glimpse of the gates at the top of the driveway and the garden beyond them. There’s someone moving about up there. Half hidden behind the bare trees standing guard in front of the house. Karen slows down further, inches forward, craning her neck.

Could it have been Luna? Not dressed in her usual white, in that case; whoever was up there had been dressed in black, or possibly dark blue.

A sharp honking behind them. Sheepishly, as though caught doing something illegal, she steps on the accelerator and the car leaps forward.

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ Marike exclaims.

‘Nothing. I just thought I saw someone moving about up there.’

‘Oh no, how ominous. People moving about. Seriously, Karen, are you OK?’

She can’t be bothered to explain. Marike would understand, of course. The problem is she thinks she might understand a bit too well.

You sound jealous.

Hardly. Luna and Leo are the least of her problems, she tells herself and lets the other car pass.

Suddenly, she regrets agreeing to this trip. Several hours with a person who can read her like an open book would probably be stressful for just about anyone. And unbearable when you have as much to hide as I do, Karen thinks darkly and turns right onto a gravel road. Marike’s going to know something’s wrong, and she’s not going to bloody let it go.

The thought of putting words to her fears makes her throat tight, so she reaches out and turns the radio on. Regrets it when she hears the song that’s playing, but can’t hold back a chortle when Marike joins in.

‘If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me . . .’