‘Good riddance,’ he tells her.

They all set off together, cycling down to the marina. It’s been so long since they spent a whole day together that it feels as if they’re on holiday. She takes a selfie as they wait in the queue for the boat that will take them out to the Rampion Wind Farm and puts it in the WhatsApp chat. She’s so proud of Pim and his initiative, she wants to share it with the Sea-Gals. Helga gets straight back: ‘I’ll be in the marina later. Come and meet Linus. We’ll be at the end of the dock. Everyone come. I want you to meet him.’

The trip to the wind farm is magical and the boys are utterly enthralled. Claire takes lots of photos as they glide around the huge sails. The land looks miles away, Brighton just a tiny dot in the distance. It’s good to get this perspective. It’s been a while since she had it.

Felix talks to one of the other people on the trip and then comes and joins Claire where she’s standing with Ash.

‘Look at the water. It’s so clear,’ she says. ‘I just want to jump in.’

‘Those people were telling me about the swim,’ Felix says.

‘The swim?’

‘There’s a swim out here. It’s a relay apparently. You should do it, Mum.’

‘Me?’

‘If you can swim round the pier, then why not?’

Claire laughs, but she can tell he’s serious and it makes her proud that he thinks she could do something so daring.

‘You’re always telling us to challenge ourselves. Why don’t you have a go?’

‘Let’s see if I can get round the pier first,’ she says, looping her arm into his and grinning at Pim, who takes a snap of them.

By the time they chug back to the marina, it feels as if she’s been abroad. It helps that, as the sun lowers, Ash spots a pod of dolphins. It’s magical watching them play in the wake of the boat.

Back at the marina, the boys cycle home together and Pim comes with her to meet Helga and Claire is excited to introduce him to her friends. Somehow having him with her makes everything complete.

Helga messages directions and they find the yacht at the end of the dock. Maddy is already on board with Jamie; Dominica is sitting with little Luna on her lap, and Tor and Lotte are squished in too.

‘More wonderful Sea-Gals,’ Linus says, welcoming them and shaking Claire’s hand and then Pim’s.

He’s lovely, Claire thinks, immediately. He’s tanned, with twinkly eyes and silver hair and, as he puts his arm around Helga, she can see that he adores her. Helga looks radiantly happy as they describe their day sailing. He fiddles with a leather pendant on his neck and Claire realises it’s the one she saw in Helga’s bedroom wrapped around the photograph.

Claire tells them all about their trip to the wind farm and seeing the dolphins.