‘Yes, but you have the mysterious Caitlin now … Where’s she from? When do we get to meet her?’ Sam asked.

Drew grinned. ‘She comes from Falmouth way. Penryn as a matter of fact.’ Drew pushed open the pub door. ‘You’ll see her soon, I promise. I don’t want to introduce her to you until we’re both ready.’

‘Fair enough. I’m very happy for you,’ she said, burning with curiosity yet trying to respect his privacy.

‘Thanks.’ Drew left Sam’s stuff by their table in the pub and delivered the news that he couldn’t stay to a wide-eyed Zennor before heading off out of the door, whistling a sea shanty.

Sam smiled to herself. He loved to play up to the rugged man of the sea thing, but was a sensitive soul really. He was part of the local fishermen’s choir and played the guitar and wrote his own songs, which he occasionally performed with a couple of mates in the local pubs. In fact, Drew’s band were booked to play at the festival on the Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Since his marriage had broken up he’d had a couple of girlfriends, one who he’d lived with for a while, but he was the first to admit his job took him away from home a lot, which didn’t fit in with a conventional family life. Not all the sailing trips were based around the local coast. Most were to Scilly or south Devon, but odd times he sailed as far as the Channel Islands or the western isles of Scotland. Sam wished him well, but something less than pleasure stirred amid her professed happiness for him. Drew sounded serious about this Caitlin in a way she hadn’t heard before. Why did she feel slightly torn about that fact? Was it the idea that everyone seemed to be coupling up? No, that was silly.

Chloe arrived and found Sam queuing at the bar to get in another round. ‘Hi there. Zennor just told me that Drew has a date tonight. He’s so lovely. I often wondered if you and he were a thing when I first moved here,’ she said, then paled. ‘Sorry, that’s a bit cheeky of me.’

‘No, it’s not and yes, some people have been waiting for us to get together but we’re just good friends, as they say. If anything had been going to happen, it would have by now but we’re very happy as mates. And anyway, as you say, Drew’s seeing someone called Caitlin.’ Sam hoped that by stating the situation between her and Drew out loud, she might remind herself of how she ought to feel about it.