Gabe had gone to fetch some drinks and Sam glanced behind her, looking for him. She spotted him queuing at the bar – or what she thought was him, because he was a long way off and she was looking directly at the setting sun. He was a fair way down the queue so he’d be a while yet. Drew and his band members started their set. Her friend was playing guitar while the lead singer started to power out a popular folk song. The band would be performing a mixture of folk and their versions of modern ballads. Some of the music was a bit middle of the road for Sam’s tastes, but they also put a fresh spin on old favourites that had her tapping her feet and singing along. Zennor and Ben were somewhere in the crowd with their mates. She wasn’t sure where Chloe was now, but guessed they’d gone home again to put little Ruby to bed.

As the applause rang out for the second song, Sam peered behind her to try and see how far Gabe had got. He was at the front of the queue and a man was talking to him. Sam squinted into the sun. She shaded her eyes. The man with Gabe – it looked like Ryan. OK, she couldn’t see the detail, but there was something in the way he held himself.

The band started a new song. Someone accidentally jostled Sam and apologised. When she glanced behind her again, Gabe was giving his order at the bar and the Ryan lookalike had gone.

She shook her head, telling herself it couldn’t possibly have been her brother and to forget her worries and just enjoy the music.

Moments later, Gabe had found her in the audience. ‘Hello, my luvver,’ he said, greeting her with his version of the local accent.

She leaned close to his ear. ‘You don’t sound like that anymore.’

‘I’m still the same inside though. You can take the boy out of Porthmellow, etcetera.’ It was true. He’d supported her through the festival, and the scars of their past were healing slowly. Tonight, they would talk. He’d reminded her again earlier, and had seemed on edge and nervous. She’d never let on to him but she liked the wariness and lack of confidence. She didn’t want him to be too sure of her even though she knew in her own heart that she’d made the decision to start a fresh journey with Gabe and see where it led.