‘They won’t. They’ve been there forever.’

We walked past the old metal sign with rusted nails telling us it was dangerous and to keep out. The ruins stood out against the sky; the sections of archways, the brick piers, the chimney shafts reaching up to the sky like forgotten sentries. Some of the walls held graffiti, names daubed across the stone, teenage love declared in rebellious etchings. The sun was hidden behind thick white cloud that hung low in the sky, and there was a fine layer of mist which hovered over the sea and caressed the coastline with gentle fingers.

‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘It’s not hard to imagine there are spirits watching us.’

We walked along the narrow footpath that led to the engine house. The drop to the side of us was even more dramatic than usual. The wind and sea roared and looking down on the seething water made my head swirl.

‘I wonder how many people have jumped,’ she mused.

We turned and walked up through the ruins away from the sea.

‘Come,’ I said. ‘I’ll show you my favourite place here.’

I led her up through a low archway to a small enclosed area. Within the four crumbling walls which, like the engine house, had no roof, was a perfect carpet of soft grass. It was sheltered here, protected from the roar of the sea and wind. I sat down with relief and we lay back on the grass and stared upwards. The heavy white was now patched with darker clouds. The sky was still. Nothing moved save for the occasional bird flying overhead, too far above us to be identified.

Edie and I lay close. I turned my head to look at her, closing my eyes briefly to steady the swirl of faintness that came with the movement. I studied her profile. Her blemish-free forehead running into her perfect nose, upturned at the end, the silver stud like a full stop. Then the rise of her lips. My heart beat hard and my body flared with heat. I felt her hand reach for mine. Or was it me who reached for hers?

All my love, Edie.

‘She means it, you know.’ Her voice made me jump. She turned her head to face me. ‘My mother doesn’t want you anywhere near the house. I heard my dad arguing with her. I even tried. I told her she was crazy, but the silly cow was having none of it. She doesn’t want any of you back there again. Not even your brother.’

‘But if you try again. Explain to her.’

Edie rubbed her face and passed her hands over her forehead and hair.

‘You know,’ she said. ‘She hit me last week.’

‘Hit you?’

‘Slapped me on the hand. It left finger marks. The next morning she couldn’t remember a thing.’