‘I really don’t get why anyone would do it. I understand that big-picture-wise we need to defend the nation and protect those in danger, but on an individual level I don’t get why you’d sign up to put yourself in harm’s way.’

Harry shrugged. ‘Some like the thrill of it, others want the skills and the discipline and the rest of us probably want to put right the wrongs we’ve seen.’

‘Is that why you signed up?’

‘I suppose.’

‘What wrongs had you seen?’ Karene asked. This was the most he’d ever said to her about his experience in the Navy and his reasons for joining.

‘You!’ he laughed. ‘Always trying to get inside my mind!’

‘I’m interested,’ she said. ‘Aren’t I allowed to be interested in the man I love?’

‘I guess,’ he said. When she didn’t say anything else he sighed and gave a small shake of his head. ‘Have I told you about my sister?’

‘You have a sister? Older or younger?’

‘Older. She had a stroke when I was in my teens. She’s in a care home now.’

‘I’m so sorry. That’s awful.’ She laced her fingers through his. ‘Is she why you joined the Navy?’

‘I didn’t think about it when I signed up but I can see now that it was a big factor. I suppose I—’

Karene waited.

He pushed a king prawn around his plate. ‘She told me.’

‘Told you what?’

‘That she’d been feeling weird: getting headaches, feeling disorientated. They were probably mini-strokes. But I didn’t do anything about it.’

‘What could you have done?’

He shrugged.

‘How old were you?’ she asked.

‘Sixteen. And Lucy was twenty. If I’d told Mum or encouraged her to go and see the doctor …’

‘You couldn’t have known. How long after she told you did it happen?’

‘A few days. I could have checked on her, made her stay at home instead of going back to her dingy flat. If we’d been there when it happened we could’ve reacted faster. Reduced the effects.’

Karene squeezed his hand. ‘You said she’s in a care facility now?’

‘She lost the ability to speak, walk, go to the bathroom without help.’

‘Oh, Harry, I’m so sorry. How awful for her, for all of you.’

‘I’ve never told anyone this before.’

‘That she’d told you she felt ill?’

He took a sip of wine.

‘You didn’t tell your parents?’

‘They’d have hated me.’

‘No they wouldn’t.’