I went up to the rock first. It was a clear day and the waves were calm. I looked over to Sennen Cove in the distance. At the cottages which crept up the hillside, the sea wall dotted with fishermen, and the car park above the bay which held cars in neat lines that glinted in the sunshine.

I’d hoped I might catch the Davenports eating breakfast on the terrace. The two of them in contented peace, the glass pot of coffee with its golden dome between them. A bowl of fruit from which Eleanor would select a piece to cut into segments whilst Max ate toast, perfectly golden, always with marmalade. But the terrace was empty. Perhaps they’d already eaten or maybe they hadn’t woken yet. I felt a rush of excitement as I pictured them warm in their bed, her head on his chest, white cotton sheets tangled around them, sunlight falling through the slatted blinds throwing lines of shadow and gold across their silken bodies. I shifted position to get a better view of their bedroom through the thatch of grasses, but the morning sun glared off the window so even if they were in there they were shielded from sight.

I checked my watch which read a quarter to ten. Jago and Mum would soon be arriving so I wrapped up the binoculars and dropped them into my bag then walked down the slope. When I reached the gate I pushed it wide open. No need to worry about creaking hinges anymore.

‘What do you mean work? It’s the holidays. Do you have to?’

Edie sat on the windowsill in her bedroom and looked out of the window.

‘I need to help Mum out with money and stuff.’

‘But you said you were free to hang out.’

‘I’m only doing Mondays, then Wednesday and Saturday mornings.’ I tried to sound upbeat.

Edie craned her head to look at something down below. Her hand went to her ear and she fingered her earring absentmindedly. ‘Your brother’s arrived.’

‘To see your mum. She wants to interview him.’

Edie laughed. ‘It’s only painting a fence, you know. Not a proper job. She just wants to make sure he’s not going to take her jewellery. She’s paranoid about people wanting to steal from her. She’s insane.’

Edie glanced down at the terrace again then pushed herself off the windowsill and headed out of her room.

I didn’t follow her immediately but instead moved closer to the window and looked down to see Eleanor and my brother on the terrace. She was pointing down towards the railings and he was nodding, holding his arm, head dipped. I didn’t need to be able to hear him to know he’d be talking in monosyllabic grunts. Hopefully this wouldn’t put Eleanor off.