‘Yeah, we know. Course it is. A “drink”,’ said Kate meaningfully, making inverted commas with her fingers. ‘We all love a good old “drink” now and then, don’t we?’

‘Ooh, yes. A long, slow “drink” with a sexy young man, you can’t beat it,’ sniggered Patsy.

‘Honestly,’ Jeanie spluttered. ‘You two! Come on, let’s go and have dinner. See if we can find a couple of nice chaps for you, while we’re at it.’

Nothing’s going to happen, she told herself as they wandered towards the restaurant, still laughing. Of course nothing would happen. It was ridiculous to even think so. She was a wife and mother – she was a grandma, for heaven’s sake!

But even as these words were going through her head, she was aware of a new, light-hearted girlishness that ran in parallel with them. A wild sort of naughtiness, which had bubbled up, seemingly out of nowhere. She was miles from home, on a beautiful island; it was a warm summer’s evening and there was just this sense of opportunity floating on the breeze, there for the taking. If she wanted it. What happens on holiday stays on holiday, Patsy had said. And if anything did happen . . . well, nobody needed to know, did they?

‘Hello, yes, my name is Harry Mortimer. I believe my wife, Jeanie Mortimer, has been staying with you for the last two weeks. That’s right. I’m just ringing to see . . . Well, to see if she’s checked out today, basically. In case she’d like a lift back from the airport later on.’

It was Sunday morning and Harry had come over to Paula’s house, where he was telephoning the hotel in Madeira. Too agitated to sit down, he was pacing around her kitchen, frowning as he listened to the response, a forgotten cup of coffee cooling on the table.

‘She didn’t come down to breakfast this morning? Does that mean she’s already left?’ He gazed over hopefully at Paula with the air of a man who could practically smell the return of normal life once more. Paula knew that her dad – having just spent a week with Dave, then a week with John – was itching to get back to his usual routine, with Jeanie there by his side. He was a creature of habit, he liked to have everything in its rightful place. Including his wife.