She hands me a mug and we take a seat at the breakfast bar along the back wall.

‘But I thought they were together?’

Ceana raises her eyebrows.

‘Really? All I remember is that when she was here, they had a big row. He’s not painting as much as he did, and she wasn’t very happy about that. But our new IT guy set up a separate website for Nico’s art classes and he’s started a programme for emerging artists. There are already plans in the pipeline to add another accommodation block next to our newest addition.’

Well, that’s an unexpected twist. But at the moment I can’t get past the eerie silence around us. ‘Where is everyone?’

‘Off on a coach trip to Nice. There have been a lot of changes around here since you left. We’ve had several new people join the team and things are much better organised, thanks to Pierce.’

‘Is Nico with them?’

‘No. He’s in his studio, I think. Why don’t you wander over to say hello? The others won’t be back until around nine-thirty tonight. This is going to put a big smile on a few faces, I can tell you. You are staying overnight, I presume?’

‘No. I’m… taking a little road trip, so my stops have been pre-booked.’

She screws up her face. ‘That’s a real shame. Now you’re here we won’t want to let you go that easily; we have a lot of catching up to do. How is Aiden and the family?’

I finish my coffee and take my mug over to put it in the dishwasher. It’s hard to look Ceana in the face right now.

‘Aiden’s fine. He’s travelling. We decided to call it a day, actually. Owen and Hannah are doing great, but always busy these days. So much has happened in this last year.’

Even from the other side of the kitchen, I can sense her reaction – she’s shocked. The sound of a stool scraping on the floor makes me turn and suddenly Ceana flings her arms around me.

‘I’m so terribly sorry to hear that, Fern. I did wonder when you went very quiet. Those early text messages were quite upbeat and then suddenly, well, it was obvious something wasn’t right. So, this is a little holiday then?’

We step back and her eyes flick over me as if she’s looking for answers about the real reason for my visit.

‘Sort of. A road trip to allow me some time to think. I’m considering going into partnership with another artist who runs a little gallery in Canterbury. It’s time to make some big changes in my life and leave the past behind.’