It wasn’t exactly awkward, but it wasn’t comfortable either and after a few moments, I felt compelled to fill it. ‘You’re not usually here this time of day.’

He turned his head to look at me. ‘You’ve been tracking my coming and going?’

‘No,’ I blurted, my cheeks heating rapidly. ‘Of course not. But the shack is—’

‘It’s okay. I’m just teasing. I go out there once or twice a day to feed my old friend’s cat.’

‘You mean Bill?’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Yeah. You’ve heard of him?’

‘A little.’ And I’d also done a bit of online snooping during my week back in Perth; not that I’d found much more than the fact he was a drifter who’d turned up in the Point about forty-five years ago, worked as a cray fisherman and never moved on. ‘He sounds like an interesting man.’

‘Yeah, he was.’ Dan paused a moment and his eyes grew serious. ‘Anyway, this morning when I went to feed Lion, he didn’t seem quite himself. Thought I’d go out on my lunch break and check on him. See if I should take him to the vet.’

‘Does the cat like going in the canoe?’

‘How many cats do you know who like water? Lion might be surrounded by the stuff, but he stays firmly on land. He’s only been off once in his life when he got bitten by a snake. Bill tried to take him out in the boat a few times, but, not surprisingly, he wasn’t a fan.’ Dan pushed to his feet and lifted a hand to wave. ‘Anyway, see you round.’

I nodded as he jogged a few metres away to where the canoe was tied to a post in the sand.

‘Hey,’ he called as he started pushing it towards the sea. ‘Don’t suppose you’d like to come out for a look? If Lion’s still sick, I might need some help bringing him back.’

Super curious about the island and also this so-called castle, part of me desperately wanted to go with him, but my heart raced at the thought. Making polite conversation on the sand was one thing but what would we talk about on the boat ride to the island and back? I had no idea how to be alone with a man that wasn’t my husband, nor did I want to learn.

‘Thanks,’ I said, trying to smile nonchalantly at him, ‘but I’d better not. I’ve got lots to do.’

Dan shrugged. ‘No worries.’

‘But if Lion is sick,’ I called as he started to walk away, ‘come back and get me and I’ll help.’ I wouldn’t turn my back on an ill animal.