Somehow, the days passed by and the family emerged from their grief. Zennor was showing a flair for art and design at school and even Ryan seemed to be settling into his job on a fishing trawler. Sam had thought the darkest times were behind her and brighter days might lie ahead, at least for her and Gabe.

How wrong she’d been.

She reached the cheery sign near the end of the outer harbour that said ‘danger of death in high waves’ and turned left towards the coastal path that led up the cliff, when bootsteps rang out on the cobbles behind her.

‘Sam. Hang on a mo.’

She stopped but didn’t turn round because she recognised Gabe’s voice. She waited for him to catch up.

‘I’m going your way,’ he said.

She hated the way her heart beat a little faster when she heard his voice. Surely, she should be over all that by now?

‘Frank from the pub trapped me, but I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the pies,’ he said.

‘Oh, really?’

‘Yes, really. They’re very good.’

‘I know,’ said Sam. ‘That’s why Stargazey’s doing so well. It might not be a multi-million-pound business, but I’m proud of it.’ Even as she spoke, she felt bad. Gabe probably hadn’t meant to be patronising, but she was tired and crabby – and most of all she was confused about the power he still had to make her feel as if she’d been lifted up and carried along on the air like thistledown.

‘I can see you’re proud of what you’ve achieved. You should be. It’s not easy making a success of a food business, especially with what you had to deal with.’

‘Don’t patronise me, please.’ The moment the words were out, she wished them unsaid. She wished everything unsaid, and Gabe gone. She’d spent so long getting over him and now he was back, he’d ripped open old wounds within days.

She walked off up the path, but Gabe followed her.

Within seconds, the path steepened into steps and both of them were breathing heavily as they climbed. ‘St-stop f-following me,’ she said.

‘Why sh-should I? I l-live up here.’

Sam spun round, gazing down at him a couple of steps below. ‘Live here? You count renting the biggest place in the village as living here?’

‘The size of the house has nothing to do with how long I might stay.’

‘Why did you have to rent that place?’

‘A, because my PA assured me it was practically the only thing available on a short lease at short notice. And B, because I thought “why not?” Is that OK with you?’

‘No, it’s not OK.’

‘Why not? Too grand for you, is it?’

‘No, too close.’