My fingers automatically continue typing to tell him how much I’m missing him, but I stop mid-sentence and delete the letters, one by one. If Aiden has outgrown me, outgrown our love, then that’s something I’m going to have to deal with. How exactly, I can’t even begin to comprehend because he is everything to me. He is the centre of my world and the reason I get up every morning. Now he’s no longer by my side, it’s like a part of me is missing.

The buzz of activity after the coach arrives is frenetic. People, suitcases, hand luggage, a cacophony of sounds… everyone pulls together though, and I simply follow the directions I’m given. After helping to carry some of the surplus bags as people head off to their allotted rooms, I walk back to the dining room to lend a hand in the kitchen.

Margot is busy setting out a buffet on the long table and several of the tutors are here helping, too. Ceana sidles up to me, leaning in to have a quick word as I move platters aside to make some more room.

‘Nico mentioned there’s a young girl named Kellie among the arrivals. I don’t know if you noticed her. Pale girl, with all the bracelets and the dragon tattoo on her arm. She’s eighteen years old and he asked if we’d keep a special eye out for her.’

She raises her eyebrows and I nod. ‘I carried one of her bags; she’s staying in the cottage.’

‘I’ll put her with you this afternoon, if you don’t mind. There’s another woman, Patricia, who might join you, too. She’s a very reserved lady, rather shy. Kellie isn’t very talkative, as you might have noticed, so I think that’s a good pairing. Don’t worry if Kellie isn’t responsive, just get her started and let me know if you have any concerns.’

I nod. ‘It’s a pity there’s no one else in the group who is nearer to her age. It could be quite isolating for her,’ I add, wondering why a retreat of this nature appealed to a teenager.

‘We often find age doesn’t matter when people come here. They connect in a different way when they are taken out of their normal routine.’

‘Ceana, can I ask you a personal question?’

She deposits the cheeseboard she’s carrying into the space I’ve made on the table.

‘You can ask me anything. I don’t have any secrets,’ she half whispers.

‘I know you’re a gardener, but what else do you do?’

She straightens to look at me directly. ‘My background is in mental health and well-being.’

I nod as she heads back into the kitchen.

Why, of all places, did fate bring me here? A buzzing against my hip sends me scrabbling for my phone.