‘Well, look at you two,’ he said as he looked at our conjoined hands. Something I couldn’t quite pinpoint flickered in his eyes. But then he strode up to me and pressed his cold cheek against mine as he hugged me. ‘I’m so pleased you and Dylan found each other again.’

‘Jesus, you sound like a dating show host,’ Dylan said.

Cole rolled his eyes. ‘My brother, as romantic as ever.’

The front door opened and Hekla appeared. She was dressed in a long flowing jumpsuit made of silk, a colourful scarf in her hair. ‘Come in, for God’s sake, it’s freezing out there.’ As we walked in, she paused and looked at Dylan. ‘Why were you outside anyway, Dylan?’

‘He never came back,’ Cole said with a grin.

Hekla looked at him, then at me, a small smile spreading over her face. ‘Ah, I see. I thought I sensed desire in the air.’ Dylan and I exchanged a smile. Hekla really was quite something. ‘Come, we have breakfast laid out.’

We all walked into the dining room as Hekla instructed one of their staff to bring coffee and tea. Asher was at the end of the table reading a paper. His face lit up when he saw us.

‘How wonderful to see you again,’ he said, gesturing for us to sit down. He looked at Cole. ‘Let’s eat first then head to the study to talk before you fly out. You must bring your wife and child next time,’ he added as he took a sip of coffee. ‘You can make a family holiday of it.’

Cole was quiet for a moment. ‘Can I be honest?’ he eventually asked. ‘It feels more like a holiday when they’re not here. I love my family but I also enjoy the time I get away from them. God, that sounds bad, doesn’t it?’

I thought of how quickly he’d been willing to fly out here on a whim … and how flirtatious he’d been with the tour guide.

‘Completely understandable,’ Asher said.

‘Do you have children?’ I asked Asher and Hekla.

Asher reached over, squeezing his wife’s hand as he gave her a sad smile. ‘We don’t.’

‘It wouldn’t be fair on a child,’ Hekla said. ‘We are not very good sacrificing our little pleasures. Plus we both work too hard; our jobs are our babies really.’

‘Sacrifice,’ Dylan said, deep in thought as he peered out of the window. ‘That’s what family is all about, I guess.’

Cole narrowed his eyes at him.

‘So what’s your job baby then?’ I asked Hekla.

‘Hekla heads the most wonderful art charity,’ Asher said with pride. ‘It’s called List An Landamaera.’

‘Art Without Boundaries,’ Hekla translated with a smile. ‘We help those with disabilities fulfil their creative dreams.’

‘Sounds wonderful,’ I said.

‘And so does your work. I think you and I are alike,’ Hekla said to me.