‘Because…’ I think of Adam treading water while I clung to the yacht. ‘Jump,’ he had shouted, panic in his voice. ‘I won’t let you fall. I promise I’ll catch you.’

‘Because he’s scared.’

He’s scared. I’m scared. I cover my face with my hands and Eva allows me the indulgence of tears. Eventually I raise my face to hers.

‘We’ve so much to say,’ I whisper. ‘So much we should have said. We didn’t talk. We didn’t listen. If there’s the slightest chance I can put that right… Please. Let me.’

She puts down her pen. ‘I’ll go and fetch Oliver.’

Chapter Forty

Oliver

Anna’s psychological assessment has gone well. Eva is willing to sign off on the paperwork on the condition she gets to chat to Anna every day.

‘Sofia has taken Anna to the medical wing for a physical,’ he tells Nell, who is nursing cold coffee. ‘There are certain conditions we need to be mindful of when using magnets, which would rule Anna out of participating in the study. She shouldn’t be too much longer.’

‘What sort of things?’ Nell asks.

‘Pacemakers, any metal in the body; plates, screws that sort of thing. If Anna were pregnant.’

Nell sighs. ‘She was. Anna had a miscarriage after the accident.’

It is both shock and sadness that steal Oliver’s words. Anna has been through so much more than he had imagined.

‘They had been trying for a baby for five years,’ Nell says.

‘Do you think she’s ready for this?’ Oliver respects Eva’s opinion but Nell knows Anna better than anyone. ‘If you don’t think she’s up to it, I’ll call it off now.’ Science is everything to Oliver but even he knows that people… people have to come first.

‘I think she needs this,’ Nell says.

They sit in silence until Sofia brings Anna back to them. Immediately, Nell rushes towards her friend, wrapping her arms around her. Murmuring in her ear. Oliver glances at Sofia. She gives a slight nod.

‘Anna.’ Briefly he touches her shoulder.

‘I want to see Adam.’ Wearily she turns around.

‘Of course. Right away. All the tests are fine so if you want to, we can bring him back here?’

‘Today?’

‘Only if you’re comfortable with that. You could sleep here tonight. Both of you?’

‘I’ve got an early flight,’ Nell says. ‘I don’t want to disturb Anna by getting up at a ridiculous hour.’

‘I can arrange for a car to pick you up from the apartment first thing and drop you at the airport,’ Oliver says.

‘I think that would be best. Is that okay with you, Anna?’

‘I don’t… I guess… Would we begin the trial tonight?’