‘Great, you can get a quick glimpse at where I’m spending a lot of my free time. You look well, I’m just relieved you don’t have sunburn after working outside.’

I head down the hallway and try to keep panning around so Aiden can get a feel for the beauty of this place.

‘The temperature was quite comfortable, around nineteen degrees, and the rainfall is negligible in Coober Pedy. They only get about six inches a year, but the ground is so dry that when it does rain, it’s a big problem as it can turn a track to mud. In January and February it’s unbearably hot and the temperature soars unbelievably, apparently. No one could work in it. It’s in the middle of nowhere, a legend of the outback, and the nearest town is Roxby Downs, over two hundred and seventy kilometres away.’

‘That sounds like a real adventure, Aiden. Any regrets?’

I swing open the door and head inside the studio.

‘Not really. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but in a way I’m relieved to be moving on. I was talked into it but had no idea how remote it was. No need to worry, it’s out of my system now.’

I laugh at him and wish I could reach out and touch that face I know so well. Just to have contact again, skin on skin. He needs to know that I want him to enjoy this time, even though it’s a constant worry.

‘I’m relieved to hear it. You’re supposed to be having fun, which is something Hannah said to me, but you really scared her, too.’

He at least has the grace to look a little embarrassed by his poor decision-making. ‘I think most men have a secret desire to jump into something exciting and be Indiana Jones for a while. Lesson well and truly learnt. The plan is to do a bit of sightseeing here, while trying to sort out some sort of voluntary work for a while. Not even sure where, but I’m researching that at the moment.’

There’s a loud tapping sound. It’s quite insistent.

‘Hang on a second, Fern.’

The angle of his laptop doesn’t allow me to see the door, but after he disappears from view, I hear low voices speaking in the background. Seconds later he returns, looking excited.

‘Joss is speaking to one of the aid agencies at the moment and she wants me to sit in on the call. So sorry, babe, but this could be the next leg of the journey. Great studio. Next time maybe you can show me what you’re painting. Love you. Miss you and take care.’

Bing. The call ends.

‘Miss you, too,’ I croak and my words echo around the silent room.

I feel alone and deflated. I so wanted to share this with him, right now.