‘Ah yes. Everyone’s so . . . free-spirited and rootless these days.’

There was bite to the words, and Bell looked away. She didn’t need to explain her life history to this woman. What did she know about life choices or career paths? She was a spoiled, rich stranger who had clearly never had to work a day in her life.

‘And my brother,’ she said, taking a deep drag, holding it for a moment before exhaling with a sigh. ‘How are you finding him?’

What had he said? she wondered. ‘He’s not playing too, is he?’ she replied coolly.

Nina laughed loudly, displaying a set of perfect teeth. ‘Ha! My God, no! Ha, you’re hilarious.’ She had that rich person’s way of showing amusement by speaking her laughter, rather than actually laughing it. She took another drag, enjoying her cigarette, playing with the smoke with her lips and blowing rings; it seemed a somewhat subversive, teenage act for such an elegant woman. ‘I meant . . . is he behaving himself?’

‘We’re not . . . He hasn’t tried anything on, if that’s what you mean.’

Nina laughed harder. ‘Ha! It wasn’t, but –’ She began coughing, she was laughing so hard. ‘Ha! Oh God, honestly? I’d ask you to do him a favour and jump his poor bones, but I’m not sure one can say that sort of thing these days, even as a joke.’ Her smile faded and she sighed, looking suddenly sad. She was quiet for another moment, seeming to sink into her thoughts. ‘You’ve been filled in on the accident, I’m assuming.’

‘Of course.’ Only thanks to Christer, though. Hanna had effectively let her come here blind.

‘So then you know that he’s still not fully recovered, in spite of appearances?’

‘I do, yes.’

‘Good. Because he could do with a little kindness right now. God knows he won’t show any to himself. He’s picking at old wounds, trying to get her back.’

Bell hitched an eyebrow at her tone. Was she not a fan? ‘If it’s any consolation, I don’t think he’ll succeed. Hanna’s happy with Max.’

Nina gave a snort. ‘Sadly it’s not. God knows I never liked the woman, but he’s pinned his flag to that mast; he’s convinced she’s the happy ending and he’ll get her, you see if he doesn’t.’

Bell didn’t reply and they were quiet for a moment – Nina still blowing smoke rings, Bell burrowing her toes even deeper into the earth, the two of them like truants hiding from a teacher.

‘Still, you know what they say: where there’s life, there’s hope –’

Bell bit her lip. Her hope had long gone, been snuffed out like a candle in a storm.

‘– And perhaps I should just be grateful that he’s still here to make shitty choices.’ Nina blew a stream of smoke through flattened lips. ‘He died, you know, before he arrived at the hospital. He was in full cardiac arrest when they got to him . . . I’ll never know how they got him back.’