Kat’s study was a cosy end-of-corridor room containing a desktop computer, a voluminous orange beanbag, an oak chest spilling with sewing equipment and a tailor’s dummy swathed in a sari of lilac silk. Kat went straight to the desk and plucked a sheet of A4 out of the tray of her printer. ‘My surprise is this.’ She shoved the paper under Eleanor’s nose, beaming. ‘It arrived this morning. Talk about a blast from the past. I want to hear your views.’ She pronounced the word as if it was a great joke, sliding past Eleanor and settling herself on the beanbag, from where she began to adjust some lower folds in the lilac silk, her small, nail-bitten fingers working nimbly. ‘I printed it off so it was easier to read. Take your time,’ she mumbled, managing, in spite of having several pins between her lips, to communicate impatience.

The paper was an email. Noting who it was from, Eleanor leant back against the desk in a subtle bid to steady herself, marvelling both at the timing of its arrival and the reminder of her little sister’s relentless and unfailing ability to wrong-foot her.

From: [email protected]

Subject: Greetings

Dear Kat,

This is just a friendly enquiry to ask how the hell you are. Something perhaps to do with the big Four Ohhh being on the imminent horizon, wanting to take stock, etc. Where did twenty years go? That’s what I keep asking myself. I hope you are well and happy. Are you well and happy?

As for me, doctoring took me to dermatology and for the past ten years I have been working as a consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here in Cape Town. (Hence the above email address!) I have a South African wife, Donna, and two beautiful daughters (they take after their mother!), Natalie and Sasha, aged fifteen and thirteen. We are lucky enough to live in Constantia, a beautiful area outside Cape Town (in case you didn’t know!), in a house with a big garden, pool, etc., and views across the valley towards the city and the famous Table Mountain.

Donna is very happy being near her family (we moved here ten years ago from London, where I worked at King’s after my elective). Her father is a successful property developer and they have a superb estate in Rondebosch where she and the girls are able to keep their horses and go riding. (Yours truly prefers tennis!) Living relatively far out of town, Donna is kept very busy running around after the girls – they go to school in the city and have hectic social lives!

Well, Kat, I was just wanting to touch base. A friendly line after twenty years. It would be good to hear some news back from you if you had the time.

By the way, how’s Eleanor these days? Say hi from me if you see her.

Best wishes,

Nick (Wharton)