“I’m fine,” said Caroline. “You’re not supposed to drink with meals.”

Finn snorted with laughter. “Where did you hear that?”

“It’s true,” Caroline insisted.

“Is that a rule for everyone, or just for you? What happens if you forget? Do you explode?”

“If you drink with your meal,” Caroline insisted, “you get fat.”

“But you’re not fat,” said Paul.

“That’s because I don’t drink with my meals.”

“Or turn into a Gremlin,” said Finn.

“Or melt,” suggested Ava.

“Melt?”

“Yes, you know, like the Wicked Witch of the West.”

“Oh, yes. Do you remember the time we stayed up all night looking for the Hanged Munchkin?”

“Was that the night we drank that awful cider?”

“That’s the one,” said Finn. “That really was disgusting. South Western Gold. Ugh. I wonder if you can still get it anywhere?”

“We’re in the land of the cider-apple,” said Ava. “We’ll have a look tomorrow.”

“Good plan. Does anyone want to go for a swim?”

“Yes.” Ava crumpled up her chip papers and stuffed them in the nearest bin.

“Brilliant. Caroline?”

“You know,” said Caroline, “I think I’m going back to the hotel now.”

“Me too,” said Paul. “Ava, it’s really late.”

“It is not really late, it’s about nine o’clock in the evening.”

“Well, it’s really late to swim. Anyway, it’ll be freezing.”

“I don’t mind the cold,” said Ava.

“And there aren’t any lifeguards.”

“We’ll manage without the lifeguards,” said Finn.

“Finn,” said Caroline despairingly.

“What?” said Finn, astonished.

“We’d better go back to the hotel,” said Ava.

“Had we? Why?”

“Because,” said Ava.

Holding hands in the dark, Paul and Ava lay next to each other in the saggy double bed and listened to the muffled voices through the wall.

“They’re arguing,” whispered Ava.

“Oh, you think?”

(“… don’t want you to… I just want… ”)

(“Caroline, come on… ”)

Paul put a hand on Ava’s thigh, then took it off again.

“Shut up,” he ordered her.

“I didn’t say a word!”

“You’re talking to yourself in your head.”

“Sorry, am I not allowed to think now?”

“Not when you’re thinking I hope Finn’s all right and I hope she’s not upsetting Finn and I wish Finn could just find someone to be happy with and… ”

“Good Lord, you’re a mind-reader. Let’s see if I can do you.” Ava put a hand on his face. He shrugged it off.

“Stop it. I’m really angry, Ava. We’re supposed to be on holiday with each other. You’re supposed to be paying attention to me. And all I’m getting is a poor second best to your kid brother!”

“You don’t understand,” said Ava.

“Yes, I do. You think I don’t, but I do. I understand a lot more than you think. He’s not little any more, he’s six foot one and he’s out of his teens and he’s old enough to do everything legal. You gave up your whole childhood for him, Ava. I won’t watch you give up your adulthood as well.”