Nico indicates for me to take a seat at the little bistro table. The air carries with it a blend of floral notes, but somewhere close by there is a profusion of jasmine, which is quite dominant tonight. It eclipses the fragrant perfume of the wonderful roses even.

It’s very private here, mainly because of the height of the shrubs and the wildness of the garden within the three stone walls. A tranquil place nestled within a forest, protected by the mountain ranges.

‘This is a beautiful little oasis, Nico. I bet it drives Ceana mad, plants tumbling over each other in unorchestrated chaos. But it would be such a shame to tame it.’

He smiles, a dimple in his cheek turning it into a rueful look. ‘At the end of the summer, she’ll appear with shears and I have to look the other way. The plants repay her kindness and hard work in the spring.’

I tilt my head, looking up at the night sky once more and as my eyes adjust I begin to notice the stars. I can feel Nico watching me.

‘Kellie is a troubled young woman, I can see that, but she has a mind of her own. It’s a strong and determined one. And I know Taylor well enough to vouch for the fact that he would never take advantage for the sake of it. He’s had his heart broken in the past, so you can relax. If anything develops between them, then it will be because they have feelings for each other. That’s not wrong, is it?’

I stop looking up and turn to face Nico. He stares back at me anxiously, as if it’s important that I agree with him on this.

‘No. But she’s very young and fragile.’

‘No more fragile than Taylor, Fern. He bears the scars of his biggest regret as if it’s his penance. But he didn’t commit a crime. Is your concern stemming from something closer to home? Kellie is a similar age to your sister, I believe?’

‘Yes. But they are two very different personalities and it’s not about that. As for Taylor, how sad that the jagged line on his cheek is a constant reminder of a bigger hurt than just the physical pain.’

‘That’s life, Fern, you don’t get to choose the hand you are dealt. And you know full well that you cannot shield the ones you love from life’s troubles, or make their decisions for them.’ His voice takes on a factual tone, almost totally devoid of emotion now.

‘Sometimes a word of caution is prudent,’ I reply.

‘I disagree. The time to solve a problem is when it presents itself, and then take action based on the information you have. You can’t live your life worrying about things that might not happen. Or inflict that upon other people.’