Great. She was worried he was going to flatten a child. Either way, he was stuck down here while she and her ski buddies zipped from peak to peak. Not only did he feel guilty; it was embarrassing, and it would only get worse when they sat in a bar drinking beer and talking about what they had done during the day.

Oh my God, the powder was amazing today!

I’m thinking of telemarking tomorrow. Anyone interested in going off-piste?

What could he add? I managed to overtake a toddler this afternoon? I’m making real progress! So he’d sit there, not really understanding what they were all talking about.

At least there would be beer.

Speaking of which, it was nearly 3 p.m. Maybe he’d get started early.

4

‘There you are!’

Annabelle walked through the crowd to the table he was sitting at. Her cheeks were flushed and tanned from the fresh air and sun, although there were white circles around her eyes where her goggles had been.

‘Hi,’ Matt said. ‘Have a good day?’

‘Fantastic. It was amazing. You?’

‘Oh, you know. I was one of the fastest in my group.’

She laughed. ‘Are you feeling sorry for yourself?’

‘A bit.’

‘You’ll get better,’ she said. ‘Everyone starts somewhere.’

‘I suppose. I feel a bit left out. And a touch inadequate.’

She sat next to him, her boots clumping against the table. ‘You know one of the things – one of the many things – I love about you?’

‘Go on,’ Matt said. ‘Tell me. Maybe a few of them.’

‘It’s your honesty. Lots of guys would sit there feeling their masculinity had been challenged, then they’d get drunk and try to prove how tough they were by punching someone.’

Matt held up his beer. ‘This is my third. And I think that guy at the bar is looking at me funny.’

She giggled. ‘You tell me you feel left out and inadequate – which we all do sometimes – but you don’t take it as an affront to your manhood. It’s so refreshing.’

‘Well,’ he said. ‘I’d rather be able to ski, but at least that’s something.’

‘It’s everything,’ Annabelle said. ‘You’re mature and smart and funny and I love you. And – in case you were wondering – I want to spend the rest of my life with you, even if your skiing leaves something to be desired. Does that make you feel better?’

Better? Had she just said she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him? Better didn’t cover it.

‘A bit,’ he said. ‘And I feel the same way. Do you think we will spend our lives together?’

‘Do you want to?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then we will,’ she said. ‘Nothing could keep us apart, Matt. Nothing.’

Sunday, 8 March 2020, 6.15 a.m.

Matt

‘So what’s the idea?’ Matt said.