He sounds distant, not in miles, but as if he doesn’t quite know what to say to me and yet he made the call.

‘I’ve been worried.’ I shouldn’t have said that.

‘It’s all good. Fun, surprisingly, and I can see how people get hooked once they find a piece of rock with some twinkling colours in it.’

After a creaky start, at least he sounds a little more relaxed.

‘Are you still with those guys? It’s not underground mining, is it?’ I’ve done it again.

‘No. I’ve been manning a bulldozer, exposing the bottom of a rocky incline. We found our first vein of opal.’

I can hear the buzz in his voice now and I close my eyes. At least he’s not in some hand-hewn tunnel somewhere far beneath the ground.

He said ‘we’. ‘You sound like you’re enjoying it. Any plans to head off somewhere else?’

‘Not sure at the moment, babe. Anyway, I must shoot off. I just wanted to check you were okay and settling in. How did your first art class go?’

‘Illuminating. And you’re right, it is fun.’ I’m desperate to make the few words I say sound upbeat and not judgemental, even though I have concerns, I don’t want to alienate him in any way. ‘It’s a wonderful set-up here and the first group are very friendly.’

‘Is everyone all right at home?’ he asks.

So, he hasn’t been in touch with anyone.

‘Yes. Mum and Dad are doing well; Mum sends me all the gossip by email – you know what she’s like. They’re restyling the garden, but it sounds like a lot of work when there wasn’t anything wrong with the old layout. Still, it’s keeping them busy. And Owen rang. He’s spoken to Hannah and says she’s fine.’

‘Oh, she still hasn’t forgiven us, then.’

‘Not quite.’

Us? You’re responsible for this, Aiden. Not me.

‘And you’re well? And safe?’ There I go again. I can’t hide my anxiety and he’ll know that from my tone.

‘Everything’s just great. Send me some photos and I’ll do the same. Sadly, my lift is about to leave and the line is beginning to break up.’

‘I will, promise. Love you.’

There are a bunch of voices in the background and it’s getting hard to hear him. One of them calls out his name. It’s a woman’s voice.

‘Love you, more.’

Click.

I let out a huge, depressed sigh. Temptation is everywhere when you’re in the middle of a crisis. I know Aiden slept with someone before me, but he’s my first and my only.

It isn’t until I hear Nico’s voice that I even realise he is walking towards me.

‘Problems?’ he asks, concern in his tone as his eyes scan my face.