My sister is emaciated; her skin is grey and she looks as if she’s an outpatient from a cancer hospital. I try not to stare at her ribcage, the bars of bones in her chest. Matt also appears exhausted, his flesh slack, apart from the puffiness of his belly. Bethany and Joe have come with us, but instead of sunbathing like normal people, they’re doing some insane workout, watched with amusement by the Italians. It involves sprints across the hard sand and bunny hops over the waves, and it could be fun if it didn’t look utterly gruelling. Matt is watching them too.

Bethany is doing press-ups now, trying to keep pace with Joe. He jumps up and pokes her in the middle of her back to get her to dip lower. I’m thinking simultaneously that Bee’s triceps are pretty impressive, and that Joe is being quite annoying. I lie back and try and relax. The sun is so warm, I could fall asleep right this second. Yeah, I could get used to this; certainly beats Photoshopping in Tamsyn’s studio, or hanging out on my own in Dad’s flat.

Matt suddenly murmurs in my ear, ‘I can’t stand it.’

‘What?’ I ask, surprised. Is he as jealous as I am of Joe’s physique? I never had Matt down as the type to feel threatened by some kid with a six-pack, but maybe he’s feeling insecure, now he’s given up five-a-side. I sit up again.

Matt glances at Amy to make sure she’s not listening and then goes back to staring at Bee. ‘I can’t stand seeing her working out.’

I’m still not sure what he means. Doesn’t he like ladies being muscly? Or does he think women shouldn’t have to leap through hoops to look good on telly, when no one gives a shit what the male reporters look like? Neither seems the kind of thing Matt would give a stuff about. I must be looking puzzled, because he says, ‘She’s so strong – for a woman, I mean. But every time I see her, like that,’ he nods at her biceps, glistening with sun oil, ‘I remember how she cracked Ruby-May’s rib.’

I look up at the sky and the sun burns my retinas. Anything not to have to think about my sister pressing down on my dead niece’s chest with those highly toned arms. I have no idea what to say to my brother-in-law. We sit in miserable silence.

After a few minutes Bethany and Joe run past us. They give us a cheery wave and jog up the hill and into the olive grove. There’s no way I can doze off now.