‘I love the fact that you have your freedom now and I’m proud of you. This is a time for grabbing every opportunity that comes your way, and enjoying each and every moment. Don’t get bogged down worrying about things that might never happen. For you, or for anyone around you. Accept that life is all about constant change.’

She gives a little laugh and I can imagine her pulling a face. ‘All right, all right, big sis. Guess I’m about to add another little worry to your list. Liam and I are engaged. Don’t go panicking; you haven’t really missed anything. We won’t celebrate properly until you and Aiden get back, but I am wearing the most gorgeous ring. He took me out to dinner to thank me for helping him do up his flat. Suddenly, a violinist appeared and Liam got down on one knee! Honestly, Fern, I nearly died of embarrassment, but I’m so happy.’

I screw up my eyes in desperation, wanting so much to be there with her. But another part of me is crying out: Don’t rush into things, Hannah, because if you don’t experience that sense of real freedom first, it might come back to haunt you. As it has done for Aiden.

What it is, I don’t really know. A sense of adventure lost for some, maybe. A sense of… what, for me? Decadence? Selfishness? You can’t recapture the exhilaration of being young and free when you are facing thirty and life is all about responsibility.

‘If that’s what you want, Hannah, then I’m happy for you both. And when we’re all back home together we can have a huge party to mark the occasion.’

My mind is in turmoil. I did this to my parents and now my sister is doing it too – falling hopelessly in love at such a tender age and rushing headlong into it. But she sounds so happy and I can’t voice my concerns as that would make me a hypocrite. I want the best of everything for Hannah, and Liam is a wonderful young man, but it’s so soon. She’s experienced nothing really in the grand scheme of life. I didn’t understand that at her age, either – who does?

‘Thanks, Fern. I kinda thought you might give me a hard time as you aren’t here. I texted Owen, but he’s off doing some sort of special training thing. He replied briefly and said he’d phone me when he was back. How’s France?’