Later, they walked down the road, past the church, and he showed her the way onto the salt marshes where a sign told them they were on the Norfolk Coast Path. She gazed at the enormous blue sky laced with strings of white cloud and the grasses taller than herself that waved and wove in the breeze. He pointed out phragmites, sea asters and golden samphire, though the samphire hadn’t flowered yet. ‘It’s all glorious,’ she breathed.

‘I’ll show you the harbour.’ He’d taken her hand again as they strolled, Nelson trotting ahead along the track. It felt comfortable and right.

‘There’s a harbour?’ She stopped to gaze at the miles of vegetation all around, the stunted shrubs and occasional dead tree that stood like planted driftwood.

‘Not a big harbour,’ he admitted. It actually consisted of one old building and a lot of landing stages with a picturesque wreck on one bank. The tide was out and the sea creek was mainly mud, sandpipers wading between the boats that lay on their sides.

He’d rarely seen her so relaxed. When she’d arrived in Nelson’s Bar she’d been taut and unhappy, her eyes wary and letting him know how it felt to have nowhere else to go. Now she beamed and chattered as she explored the inlets and it gave him huge pleasure to be there with her.

She hadn’t mentioned their kisses in the knot garden, though she’d been thoughtful on the drive between Keelmarsh and Thornham. He’d thought she was processing her feelings and hoped she’d conclude that they were both putting the past behind them and were free to enjoy each other’s kisses. Maybe more.

Disturbing his thoughts, her phone beeped.

Her eyebrows popped up as she fished in her little bag, the phone beeping a second time. ‘There’s a signal here in the middle of the marsh?’

‘Apparently.’ Aaron watched her pause when she looked at the text bubble on her lock-screen. She tapped. Stared, her smile fading. He almost felt the tension shoot into her shoulders and back as, slowly, she put the phone away again.

‘Are you OK?’ he asked softly.

When she’d stared into space for a few moments and his heart had sunk for the same length of time she responded, absently, ‘Fine, thanks.’

Obviously, whatever messages she’d received had not contained joyful news.

On the walk back to Thornham village Clancy knew she wasn’t behaving normally. Aaron was sending her wary glances. He was the first man for several years, apart from Will, who’d kissed her. She’d kissed him back, welcoming the heat that had flooded through her, the kind that had nothing to do with the bright sunshine. It had made her feel like herself again: alive and capable of feeling desire.

But the texts she’d just received seemed to have paralysed her vocal cords. They’d been from Will. The first had said: I’m so excited! Do the second pregnancy test tonight so I can see it turn positive for myself!!! xxxxxxxxxx Then a row of emoticons from smiles to excitement and hearts.