‘She’s lost weight,’ says Suze critically. ‘And her hair looks really good. I like her top …’

‘Stop complimenting her! And don’t attract her attention.’

But it’s too late. Alicia’s heading our way. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen her at Golden Peace, but it’s the first time she’s actually come over to speak to me. In Golden Peace terms, Alicia is virtually royalty. There’s actually a great big picture of her and Wilton up in the lobby, and when the pair of them walked through the crowded café last week, everyone was practically bowing. Everyone except me.

‘Suze.’ Alicia doesn’t even look at me, but greets Suze with her new soft voice, and I see Suze blink in surprise. ‘It’s been a long time.’

‘Hi Alicia,’ says Suze warily.

‘You must be here visiting Rebecca. Are those your children?’ She turns to look at Ernest, Wilfrid and Clementine, who are running raucously around the slide. ‘They’re stunning! And I love those cute little jackets.’

‘Oh, thanks!’ says Suze. She sounds disarmed, and I scowl inwardly. That’s a typical underhand trick. Compliment the children.

‘How long are you here?’ adds Alicia.

‘Not sure yet,’ says Suze.

‘Only, I was going to say, if you’d like them to go to school during your stay, I could fix it up. Our children go to a very good pre-school, don’t they, Rebecca?’ She manages to glance towards me without meeting my eye. ‘And there’s a private school nearby which might do for the older one. I should think he’s quite advanced?’

‘Well.’ Suze blossoms. ‘He is quite bright …’

‘I could have a word with the principals. It might be fun for them to experience a US education briefly. The semester’s nearly over, but then there are great summer programmes.’

‘Wow.’ Suze seems taken aback. ‘Well, that would be great. But are you sure—’

‘It’s no trouble.’ Alicia gives her wafty smile again, then turns serious. ‘Suze, I know our friendship hasn’t always been straightforward.’

Friendship? They don’t have a friendship.

‘But I want you to know,’ Alicia continues, ‘that I’m set on remoulding that path, and I’m sorry for any discomfort I may have caused you in the past. Let’s carry on life’s journey in a different spirit.’

‘Right.’ Suze seems totally flummoxed. Meanwhile, I’m just staring, rigid with shock. She said sorry? She said sorry to Suze?

‘I’ll let you know about the schools.’ Alicia smiles and touches Suze’s shoulder, as though giving a blessing. She nods gravely to me, then moves off, down towards the beach.

‘Oh my God.’ Suze exhales when she’s out of earshot. ‘What’s happened to her? That weird voice, and that smile … and all that stuff about remoulding her life …’ She looks at me, giggling, but I can’t join in.

‘She said sorry to you,’ I say incredulously.

‘I know.’ Suze looks chuffed. ‘That was sweet, I thought. And it was nice of her to offer to help with the schools—’

‘No!’ I clutch my head. ‘You don’t understand! She refused to say sorry to me! After everything she did to Luke and me, she wouldn’t apologize. I asked her to, straight out.’