I let Charlie off his leash so he could explore his new surrounds and gazed around myself, imagining how cosy and relaxing it would be once I’d finished. I was going to have to work fast because I didn’t like leaving a job half done—and surely Adrian would come to his senses soon—but the shack would be perfect no matter the season. In summer guests could relax in the hammock out on the back verandah after a swim on the beach, and in winter they could read or play board games in front of the roaring fire as the rain pelted down outside. Pity I’d be long gone by the time winter came—I kinda liked the idea of passing time in front of the fire myself.

Maybe once Adrian and I were back together again, we could book the Airbnb from Wei and Meili and bring the kids up for a week of family bonding. Or better still, we could come alone and work on rekindling some of that spark we’d somehow lost over the last few years.

My thoughts were interrupted by Charlie barking. I followed the sound towards the kitchen to find his paws up against a cupboard as he snarled at the ceiling. Guess my resident possum was still around. Hopefully the dog would get used to the noises in the roof because his barking would certainly grate before too long.

‘Come on. Walkies.’

At my announcement, Charlie slid down the cupboard, dropping his paws to the floor. He glanced at me then back to the ceiling. Usually the word ‘walkies’ had him spinning circles in excitement, crashing into furniture as he headed for the front door, but today he was torn.

I picked up his leash, still trailing behind him, and yanked him towards the back door. The moment he spied the sea, all thoughts of the noise in the roof were abandoned. The sand kicked up behind us as we jogged to the water and within seconds my socks and sneakers were soaking wet.

Cursing my lack of forethought to take them off before we left the shack, I glanced up and down the beach and, not seeing anyone in the near distance, risked letting Charlie free. While he frolicked in the gentle waves, I plopped down on the dry sand, slipping off my soggy sneakers and grimacing as I peeled the wet socks off my feet.

A shadow appeared as if from nowhere as I was wringing out my socks. ‘I thought you’d left.’

I startled at the sound of the deep voice and looked up to see Island Dan now standing beside me. He wore blue shorts, a black short-sleeved shirt and a scruffy cap with The Lobster Factory logo on the front. His legs, which were right in front of my eyes, were tanned and rather hairy, and he wasn’t wearing any shoes. ‘Excuse me?’