‘Well, we’d better love you and leave you then, Mum,’ Leon says, placing his hand on the back door.

‘Where are you off to?’ Joe asks, as they head into the garden.

‘Suffolk,’ Alice says. ‘An island just off the coast of Dunwold.’

‘How lovely,’ Laura says. ‘We used to holiday in Southwold when you were young, Leon. Do you remember the multi-coloured beach huts, and the gorgeous pier?’

‘I do, Mum. Good times.’ Leon nods, and leans down to kiss his Mum’s cheek. ‘We’ll pick Henry up on Monday, if that’s OK.’

‘Of course, no problem at all.’

‘I hope he behaves OK,’ Alice says, as the dogs dash into the garden as one.

*

‘Hey, Faith, me again, we should be at the hotel around two.’ It’s the third time Alice has left a voicemail. ‘I hope you picked up my other messages, and everything is OK. See you soon, lovely. Can’t wait.’ She ends the call, and turns to Leon, whose eyes are glued to the heavy traffic building on the A1. ‘I still can’t get hold of Faith,’ she says, moving her gaze up towards the dark sky that looks like a duvet over the motorway.

‘She’s busy having fun with her bloke, I expect,’ Leon says, running a hand over his chin.

‘Mitch?’ She thinks of the man she met a week ago. ‘Maybe.’ She bites her bottom lip hard. Turns her phone over in her hands, a weird sense of unease she can’t quite explain washing over her. ‘But, that’s the third time I’ve called. I texted her last night too, to let her know we were coming, and nothing – zilch. It’s not like her, Leon. She would normally send me a stream of smiling emojis and a couple of hearts.’

‘Perhaps there’s no signal on the island.’

Alice shrugs. ‘But she texted me yesterday from there – sent me the picture.’

‘Well … maybe the signal’s erratic. Why are you making a big thing of it?’ He tightens his grip on the steering wheel.

‘I’m really not.’

‘Yep, you are.’ She remembers this side of Leon. He’s clearly hungry. She pulls a bag of crisps from her bag. ‘Call the hotel if it’s bugging you.’

‘It’s really not bugging me, Leon.’ She tries for a smile, opens the crisps, and shoves a handful into his mouth.

‘You know me so well,’ he says with a laugh, once he’s finished munching.

‘Are we on target to get there for two?’ She glances at the satnav.

‘Should be. I’m guessing there’s a car park.’

‘Yes, on the mainland. We’re to park up, and call the hotel. Someone will collect us.’

Leon suddenly brakes hard, and throws his hands in the air. ‘Christ, look at this.’