‘It’s okay,’ she said. ‘I’m glad you’re here.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes.’ Clodagh hoped she sounded convincing.

‘Oh, thank you.’ Bella smiled and leaned in a little closer, like she was about to whisper in Clodagh’s ear.

Something about the movement triggered a memory, so small and indistinct Clodagh couldn’t hold onto it. Out of mind, out of sight.

‘The thing is, Clodagh, I need to ask you a favour.’

‘Of course,’ Clodagh said. ‘Anything. Let’s sit down. Can I get you something to drink? Or eat? I’m heating up some soup if you’d like some. Or I could make something else, if you’d rather.’

She stopped, realising she was babbling. She was always like this with Bella, anxious and too eager to please. Somehow, Bella never seemed to notice or, if she did, was too polite to ever say anything.

‘I’m fine,’ Bella said, pulling out a chair and sitting down at the kitchen table. ‘But you go ahead and have your soup. Please.’

‘I’ll have it later,’ Clodagh said, switching off the hob. The very idea of food made her want to throw up. She sat down opposite Bella.

‘I haven’t even asked about Simon. How’s he holding up?’

She hadn’t seen Simon at the villa earlier. He’d stayed holed up in his room with Bella, presumably trying to come to terms with the fact that his only sibling had just died. More than once, Clodagh had thought about knocking on their door and asking if there was anything she could do. But each time she’d stood up to go and see him, Adam had talked her out of it.

‘He’ll let you know when he’s ready to talk,’ Adam had said, pulling Clodagh into an embrace that was meant to be comforting but made her feel stifled instead. ‘Until then, it’s better you leave him be.’

At the time, she’d done what Adam suggested and left Bella and Simon alone. Now, sitting opposite Bella, she felt bad for not having made more of an effort.

‘He’s not doing too good,’ Bella said. ‘It’s too much to take in. For both of us. Losing Nick brings it all back. The pain and the grief and the bloody awfulness of what happened.’

‘You haven’t left him alone, have you?’

‘He’s at his parents’ house in London,’ Bella said. ‘We drove straight there when we were finally allowed to leave the villa. I’ve been with them all evening, but I think they want some time together just the three of them. I was going to head directly home but I couldn’t face it. So I came here instead.’