Em and Jack, meanwhile, had gone to an aqua park and, despite her initial qualms about squeezing into a wetsuit (Christ!), they ended up having a brilliant time. There was nothing like bouncing on giant inflatables, flinging yourself from an enormous catapult and skidding about on a huge trampoline in the middle of a lake to sweep away the last traces of a hangover. Not to mention the deeply rewarding glow that came from hearing your son say, ‘This has been one of the best days ever in my life.’

Meanwhile, on the waterfront in Falmouth, Izzie and Fraser were practising the fine art of kissing. They were getting pretty good at it, even if they did have to pause for breath now and then. I approve, thought Izzie, swooning a little as she smiled into his gorgeous brown eyes. I totally approve. The group-chat leaderboard might have been abandoned now, but even so, she could still hear the points ringing in for her: win win win win WIN.

Further east, Olivia, Mack, Stanley and Harry had spent quite some time in the playground. The swings and slides had had a rigorous testing out and there had been much laughter. There was talk of driving out to find fish and chips for tea, and then the boys wanted Mummy and Daddy to bath them back at the hotel, all of which sounded good to Olivia. She was looking forward to the four of them snuggling on the huge double bed later on and quietly counting her blessings. According to Mack, you could get cocktails sent up via room service, which they were totally planning to try out, once the boys were asleep.

Lorna and Roy hadn’t gone anywhere, but they still felt as if they were on a journey. Had this been a normal day, they would have been cleaning Mawnan Cottage following Olivia’s departure, ready for the new couple who were due to arrive tomorrow for a two-week stay. However, this was not a normal day and so instead they’d been sitting at the dining-room table, filling in an online form for the Adoption Agency together. It seemed as if they were on the brink of something truly momentous. ‘Oh, I hope we can find him,’ Lorna fretted every now and then, but Roy squeezed her hand each time, sure and steady. ‘We will,’ he said. ‘However long it takes, we’ll find him.’

Epilogue

SEVERAL MONTHS LATER

‘This is it,’ said Roy, indicating to turn into the car park and then reversing into a space.