‘But you were sure yesterday.’ Sam was staggered. ‘How long has he been hanging around down here? We were at the hospital weeks ago. What’s been going on?’

‘I didn’t know Ryan was here until yesterday. I swear to that.’

‘To that. There you go again. Swearing to half the truth. There’s more, isn’t there? A lot more I don’t know and it must involve Ryan or you would have told me. The reason you won’t tell me is that it must be something I won’t like. I want to know everything right now. I deserve that much and so does Zennor. But first I have to find Ryan.’ She broke away but Gabe stopped her with a hand on her arm.

‘There’s no need. I’ll call him.’

‘Call him? You have his number? I tried it a few months ago, but it was dead.’

‘He’s changed his phone recently.’

She shoved her hands through her hair. ‘Jesus, Gabe. What else have you been keeping from me?’

‘Sam!’

She snapped round as a voice from the doorway drew her attention. She hadn’t heard it for so long or seen its owner.

He looked different. Leaner and yet more muscular, with corded muscles in his arms and breadth to his chest. His once boyish features had been sculpted … sharper cheekbones, a hard edge to his mouth and yet it was still her brother.

‘Ryan?’ Her voice came out as a croak.

Ryan walked forward. She was shaking. She hated him, she loved him.

Sam flung her arms around him and burst into tears. She began to cry, big racking sobs she couldn’t stop and she didn’t care who saw her. Ryan held her until she managed to get a grip of herself and remember how angry she was and the trouble he was in – again.

‘People are l-looking for y-you,’ she said.

‘I heard. One of the fishermen I knew from way back called me over. I was on my way to the harbour office to sort it out when I saw you.’

‘Why are you here? What’s going on?’ she begged.

‘Sam. I’m sorry you had to find out I was back like this. I meant to tell you. I promised Gabe I would.’

She let go of him. The questions pecked at her again. So many questions. ‘You promised Gabe?’

‘Yeah. Please don’t blame him. It’s not his fault.’