‘Oh my god, yes. Goodness. Yes, that’s absolutely it. Kate is just … oh, she’s an absolute darling. She can’t do enough for you. When I was in Gozo and’ – she closes her eyes tightly and shakes her head – ‘and tragedy struck, she took charge. She was amazing, comforting people, organising help. Honestly, the press destroyed her and Tom for what happened but it could have been so much worse. She actively saved people’s lives.’

‘And Tom?’ Fran asks. ‘Was he amazing too?’

Renata’s left eye twitches. ‘Tom …’ She rubs her eye briskly. ‘Sorry, I think there must be some chlorine in the water or something. Tom was traumatised by what happened. I’d never judge him. We were his responsibility. That’s a lot of weight on one man’s shoulders.’

Fran is on the edge of her seat. Literally. If she shifts any further forward she’ll end up on the floor. But she can’t help herself. Someone is finally talking about what happened that night. ‘So what happened? What went wrong?’

The moment the questions are out of her mouth she regrets them. Renata closes like a crocus at night, pulling her knees into her chest and dropping her head.

Bugger, Fran thinks.

‘Renata? Are you okay?’

Renata doesn’t uncurl but the water around her tremors. She’s shaking.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

Still no response.

‘I’m so sorry.’ Fran looks at Renata’s hands, gripping her calves, the skin on her knuckles pulled tight. ‘Have I just …’ She searches her mind for the kind of word her students use in this type of situation. ‘Have I just triggered you?’

Renata nods into her knees.

‘Should I …’ She was going to say, ‘Should I get Tom or Kate?’ But they’re the last people she wants involved. ‘Should I get Phoenix or Damian?’ she asks instead.

Renata nods again and as Fran leaves the room she hears the girl sob.

Fran knocks on Phoenix’s door and waits. From the surrounding rooms she can hear people talking on the phone, watching TV and, faintly, the sound of someone snoring. With Tom’s one-to-ones taking the best part of an hour each there isn’t a great deal to do in the afternoons other than stroll around the countryside, lounge in the hot tub or read. In his welcome email, Tom had suggested they take that time to ‘live mindfully without distractions’ but it appears everyone’s chosen to occupy their minds, or shut them down, instead.

‘Hi!’ Phoenix opens the door with a towel tucked around his waist and another draped around his neck. The strong, woody scent of his aftershave hits Fran full in the face. ‘Oh! Geraldine, what a lovely surprise. I thought you were avoiding me. I’ve been talking about my ex too much, haven’t I? Tom said I need to—’

‘I need to ask you something,’ Fran interrupts. ‘It’s urgent.’