‘I got married,’ said Josh. ‘Can’t say it’s been a happy marriage, but I’ve got two kids. Connor. And Aysha.’

‘I’m sorry if you’re unhappy,’ said Claire.

‘I married Shauna Everett.’

Claire’s face was blank with shock.

‘She came away with me the night you disappeared. Pushed herself in, really. And I was so fucking upset at losing you that I let her. Then she got pregnant with Connor, and it was a done deal, I had to marry her.’

‘Good God.’ Claire stared at him in horror. ‘So she got what she wanted after all. She wanted you – and she got you.’

‘I wanted you. I never wanted her.’

‘I need to explain things to you,’ said Claire. ‘Can I do that? Tomorrow, over lunch? Suki will join us and then you might understand.’

‘Sure.’ He was hurt. She was saying no to making love with him and he didn’t understand why. But he could wait. God, he’d waited long enough, a little more time wouldn’t hurt him. ‘Claire?’

‘Hm?’ She was cuddled in against him and he was holding her tight.

He lifted her chin. ‘Whenever you’re ready, OK? And even if you never are, that won’t change how I feel about you. That’s the truth.’

Claire’s brow cleared and she smiled sadly up at him. ‘You’re such a sweet man, Josh Flynn,’ she said. ‘You always were.’

‘So kiss me,’ he said, and she did.

Josh booked them a table next day for lunch at his hotel and Claire joined him there at one o’clock. She came into the restaurant alone. He looked around. ‘Where’s Suki?’

‘She’s coming for the pudding course, she thought we’d need a little time to chat first.’

They settled at the table and Josh ordered wine. Then the waiter left them the menus and departed. They stared at each other across the table. Josh held out his hand and smiling, Claire took it.

‘This has been a strange time for me,’ said Claire. ‘I’ve only recently found Suki, and now you show up here too.’

Josh frowned. ‘What does that mean, you “found” Suki?’

Claire took a breath and then she told him that she had given Suki away shortly after her birth, but that Suki had tracked her down.

‘What, you didn’t want her? Why was that? Were you having trouble making ends meet?’

The wine waiter came back, poured a little into Josh’s glass. Josh nodded, and he poured more and left the bottle.

‘I’m going to need this,’ said Claire, taking a gulp of the wine. ‘No, I wasn’t having money troubles. I had a good job at the club, and marvellous friends around me. But Suki . . .’ Claire shook her head. ‘Oh, Josh, I hate to even talk about it.’