‘Meteor showers, new moons, planets in orbit.’ He grinned, suddenly animated again as he spoke about his passion. ‘The Taurids shower is our best bet. It’s really unusual because it consists of two streams of debris.’ From his back pocket he pulled a notepad, one that she had never seen before. He flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for, putting his finger on a paragraph: ‘The first stream comes from Asteroid 2004 TG 10, the other one comes from Comet 2P Encke. It’s actually been going on since September, but it peaks this week.’ Slipping the notebook back in his pocket, he rubbed his gloved hands together, still with that goofy smile on his face.

She stared at him, rather shocked by the foreign language he seemed to be speaking. She had always known he took an interest in the night sky, but had no idea his knowledge ran so deep. When did he learn all of this? And, rather disconcertingly, why didn’t she know this about him? She recalled snippets of conversations, comments he had made, comets and stars and space stations… Was it possible he had tried to involve her in his passion over the years and she had dismissed him out of her own lack of interest?

Deflated, Paula pulled her coat tighter around her. It was freezing out here, and it would be worse on the boat. Why were they going on a cruise to the coldest place in Europe instead of a long-haul flight to Jamaica or somewhere equally hot? She’d been all for it when she thought she was going to witness these magical lights, but now there was a chance they wouldn’t even see them…

She stamped her feet, looked enviously at Tommy’s hiking boots, his feet encased in the insulating socks she had bought him. Why hadn’t she bought any for herself?

She watched a couple walk out of the hotel and continue arm in arm down the street. Fleetingly she wished she was wearing the woman’s coat, a thick, quilted puffa, instead of the Chanel-inspired one she herself had chosen. Absently she fingered the material. It was beautiful, but far from practical. She had chosen style over function, to look good, to not show her husband up. Just like always.

‘Here he is,’ said Tommy as the taxi rolled slowly around the curved drive. ‘Come on.’

He picked up his case, expecting her to follow him, and she waited while he loaded the case into the boot. He sidestepped her, slipping into the passenger seat of the cab, and she heaved her own case up, struggling under the weight. After a moment, the taxi driver appeared, taking the case from her and flashing her a smile. She thanked him quietly and hurried to join Tommy in the warmth of the cab.