We were up long before dawn. It took Minny an hour to do her hair and put her make-up on. She took up gabbling again the minute her eyes opened and I wonder if I’ll be sharing a tent with her on the trail. If so, I’m not going to get a minute’s peace. It’s like coming away with Ellen and I get a pang that my daughter has no interest in doing something like this. I smile at Minny as she preens in the mirror as she’s almost beside herself with glee. With her cropped trousers, heels and over-size handbag, she does, however, look more like she’s going out for a night’s clubbing rather than a trekking holiday. I fight the urge to ask her if she’s brought some sensible shoes with her and some warm clothes. I’m not her mother – I must remember that. To counter Minny’s glamour, I went down the more native route and put on my jeans and fleece and hiking boots and no make-up to give myself a taste of what’s about to come.

Now the whole group is assembled together at the airport. Blake is organising everyone, thank goodness. We’ve joined an enormous queue snaking through the departures area. The flight to Lima goes via Miami, and as well as us with our smattering of hiking gear – and Minny’s clubwear – there’s a lot of people in Hawaiian shirts and shorts who clearly aren’t coming all the way with us.

There is the air of a school trip about us and everyone is completely hyper – like the kids used to be when they ate blue sweets. Except me. I feel nauseous with nerves. For two pins, I’d drop my bags and run.

My palms are sweaty as I edge forward at the far end of the line. Blake Chadwick comes to my side. He is in immaculate designer trekking gear from head to toe and looks like an advert for Davidoff aftershave. ‘Feeling okay, Annie?’

‘Fine,’ I say tightly.

‘It’s natural to be a bit nervous,’ he offers.

I try to stop chewing my fingernails as I look up at him. ‘I’m not nervous.’ I’m terrified. Utterly terrified.

He slings his arm round my shoulder. ‘You’ll be cool,’ he assures me. ‘You have me to look after you.’

But I don’t want Blake Chadwick looking after me. I want Greg. I wish my husband was here, his big solid presence giving me reassurance.

We inch forward in the queue. I just want to be on my way now. I just want to be there. The mounting tension as we edge nearer and nearer to the desk is threatening to make me explode. Time is ticking away. The hour of the flight departure is getting nearer and nearer.