We came to the edge of the trees and walked onto the footpath. The silence has been comfortable, I have to say, as we wandered back through the trees. I occasionally glanced to Tate and he had a glazed look across his face, so I can only assume he was daydreaming, or off in his mind thinking about other things. But that was fine with me because it meant he wasn’t on my case.

I know he means well, but I just like my space, like to be alone. I don’t see what the big issue is with that.

“Vi?” Tate’s voice suddenly pipes up from behind me, making me...