But one glance at Zennor standing by the grave, wiping her eyes, and at Ryan by her side, had decided Sam. Now she had her family around her again, no matter how much she loved Gabe, she could never leave them or her home.

That Tuesday night, she lay awake turning over Ryan’s words about Gabe and their mother. He left very early, to see his family before a meeting at the new rehab centre but not before they’d all arranged to meet his partner, Tilly, and her children the following weekend. She realised that she might soon have a new family to welcome to Wavecrest. It was a time of new beginnings – for some.

Zennor kissed him at the door, but Sam walked to his car with him. ‘Ryan, before you go, there’s something else that’s been bothering me. Something Bryony said after the festival.’

‘Bryony?’

‘Yes. She said that you were kind to her at school and that you pushed some guy who’d been hassling her in the harbour.’ Sam decided not to mention the part involving Bryony’s grandfather jumping off a cliff.

Ryan laughed. ‘Yeah, I remember that. He was a tosser and he deserved it. Is that what you wanted to ask me about?’

Sam smiled. ‘Not totally. Bryony was trying, in her own unique way, to explain why she’d raced over to the office to get you off the hook. I get that she had a tough time at school from the bullies. I didn’t realise how much, her being a few years older, but she also said something about Gabe. She said I’d no idea about him … and after my van was vandalised, she really went for him as if she hated him. I think she ripped down the posters because they had Gabe’s name on them.’

‘She had a massive crush on Gabe. Didn’t you know?’

‘What? Oh God, no. I’d no idea.’

‘She told me after I pushed that bastard in the harbour. She ranted about how miserable she was and how she hated everyone in Porthmellow and Gabe didn’t even know she existed. I think Bryony carried a torch for him for years after, even when he’d left town.’

‘I wish I’d known. You haven’t mentioned it to him, have you?’

‘No way. What’s the point if she’s over it now and she’s obviously found someone else, even if it is Harry Seddon,’ said Ryan, pulling a face.

‘None, I suppose, and you don’t think Gabe has any inkling she was in love with him?’

He laughed. ‘Not a clue. I’m not sure anyone else ever knew. It was Bryony’s secret.’

Sam sighed. ‘OK. I’ll leave it alone. Some secrets are best left buried.’