‘But you’re sensibly living away from the hordes during the holiday invasion?’ the woman asked.

‘Something like that.’ She smiled. ‘Can I take your name, please?’

Merrin opened up the computer screen to check the woman in and it felt as if the three things happened simultaneously. First, the little toddlers tumbled playfully from the sofa and came careering back to the reception desk, chattering and laughing loudly as they ran and shoved each other, before crashing into their mum’s long legs. Second, the woman spoke her name, clearly, audibly and without hesitation, but to Merrin’s ears it arrived as a garbled message that took a second to decode, and third, the door opened and in walked Digby Mortimer.

‘That’s Mortimer. M.O.R.T.I.M.E.R.’ The woman turned at the sound of the door opening. ‘Hello, darling, there you are! Just checking in. The boys nearly escaped and I am in need of a large gin! This lovely lady has been making me laugh. I’m sorry, I’m so rude, I didn’t ask your name?’

Weakened, she felt her body slide forward a little until her legs made contact with the back of the unit. It kept her upright. Aware that she was staring, but unable to look away, her stomach flipped and she found it hard to take a full breath. Her mouth was dry and she could feel the twitch of discomfort under her left eye, as beads of nervous perspiration gathered on her top lip.

There he was, right in front of her. She had imagined this moment many times and it was never like this. It was the first time she had seen him since she abandoned him on Reunion Point, where he sat holding the thin engagement ring that with shaking fingers and a shredded heart she had placed in his palm.

‘Merrin.’ She answered the woman’s question.

Her voice so quiet, no more than a squeak, as the woman leant forward, craning her neck.

‘Sorry, what? Did you say Mary?’

She shook her head and swallowed. ‘It’s Merrin,’ she managed, and coughed.

‘Merrin! I’ve not heard that name before, it’s lovely!’

The woman’s words were confirmation that Digby had never mentioned her to his wife, and knowing that the whole episode that had so shaped her life and had such an impact on her self-esteem was not even worthy of discussion was devastating.

‘Have you heard of it, Digs?’

Digs . . .

‘Is it common in Cornwall?’ She turned to look at her husband, who stood by the door, transfixed and awfully pale.