‘And so it went on, until he’d drained me dry. It took about six months. When I tried to challenge him about paying me back, he was charm itself, promising me that he would, begging me to understand,’ she told them, remembering all those phone calls that had made her feel as if she was going crazy. She’d tried to go after him with lawyers, but he’d covered his tracks. It turned out that he wasn’t even an art dealer. And Paul hadn’t been his real name. She’d been taken for a ride.

‘Oh, God, Helga, that’s awful,’ Dominica says.

‘You were catfished,’ Claire says.

‘I’m sorry, Helga,’ Maddy says. ‘Truly.’

Helga nods, grateful for their sympathy. Grateful that they haven’t judged her like she constantly judges herself.

‘It wasn’t the money. It was the shame of it that got me. I’m amazed I’ve even told you,’ she says. ‘It’s taken me a long time to get over it, but I’ve realised that, at one point or another, people make bad decisions. It’s life. You might not feel like it right now, but you’ll find a way through all of this, Maddy, and come out on top. You’re a smart woman,’ Helga says, reassuringly.

‘I don’t feel very smart. I feel wrung out.’

‘Then let the sea give you her energy,’ Helga says. ‘Come on. Head under. Leave it all here.’

Helga is surprised to see Claire swimming in an efficient, languid front crawl.

‘Look at you,’ Helga says. ‘Mrs Speedy.’

‘I had my first swimming lesson.’ Claire seems proud that they’ve all noticed.

‘With delicious Andy,’ Dominica says.

‘Oh God! Isn’t he?’

Helga smiles as they giggle like schoolgirls about the handsome swimming instructor, who appears to be working wonders with Claire. And she remembers Linus diving into the sea and coming up grinning, flicking his hair and declaring that he’d race her around the yacht and how she’d swum for her life and still hadn’t beaten him. How invincible they’d been. How beautiful and young; and her heart aches for that golden moment.

Back on the beach, Claire has brought some flapjacks, which she’s made with seeds soaked in orange oil. They sit in the sunshine, talking and sipping their flasks of tea.

The conversation turns back to Maddy and how she’s going to have to go back home and sort out the house if they get a buyer. She’s panicking about where to put all of her stuff and how much hard work it’s going to be.

‘Sorry,’ Maddy apologises yet again. ‘Dumping all this on you.’

‘It’s OK,’ Dominica says, stroking the little dog in her lap, ‘we’ve got time to talk. And besides, I don’t want you to go when Luna is keeping me warm.’

Maddy sighs and ruffles Luna’s soft ginger ears. ‘The worst thing is that I can’t help thinking that I deserve this. All of this. Trent, Jamie, the house … all of it.’

‘Why do you think that?’ Claire asks.

‘Because … because I’m a fraud.’