I’d liked it when he’d told me I looked pretty, but then he’d instantly looked like he regretted saying it, as if he’d already changed his mind at the trick of the light that had made him think so. If I’d have stood on the shore looking at stingrays with Freddie, I might have put my arm around her, but I couldn’t think of another person I’d feel that comfortable with. I’d had to lean in close when he’d read me the paragraph from his book. Before we’d gone to bed he’d found me the poem he’d promised he’d look up, and it was as good as he’d said.

I played all of it over and over in my head, eventually grabbing my phone to message the Core Four.

Greetings from Aus! I typed. Just to say all is good here. Patrick a gentleman, sun unseasonably warm, period has finally come. Carol is missing though, so bit worried about that. Freddie hunting her down. Taking photos analogue so don’t use phone a lot – loads to show you though! Xxxx

I texted Freddie, too, just to say, I love you, Frou. Try not to worry!

When I lay back down I thought I’d toss and turn about the dog, but my mind went straight back to Patrick’s shoulders as he’d propped himself up on the towel that afternoon, the dusting of sand stuck to the backs of his firm, glistening biceps, sweat pooling at the back of his neck as he’d looked out to sea and said there was nowhere else he’d rather be.

17

‘So, apparently the cabernet sauvignons and chardonnays are consistently rated amongst the region’s best, and we get a private tasting in Eric’s Room, named after the estate founded by Eric Smith.’

I’d woken up to find Patrick sprawled out in his boxers and an open dressing gown on the sofa, sunlight streaming in where he’d unpeeled the patio doors so that the rustle of the breeze in the trees and soft birdsong was our soundtrack. I thought I was good at getting up early, but apparently he was even better.

‘Hmmmm,’ I said, a plate of creamy eggs and smoked salmon in my lap. I reached for the jug of orange juice. ‘Do you think Eric will mind that I’m an ABC girl?’

‘ABC?’

‘Anything But Chardonnay.’

‘Ha! Let’s wait to see the look on his face, then. Well. Maybe not his. But it does say sommelier-led tastings featuring limited-release wines, so it’s going to be somebody who knows what’s up.’

I spooned the last of the eggs royale into my mouth.

‘I wear a nice dress to a winery, right? That’s a thing people do?’ I had visions of flouncing through vineyards in something cotton and floral.