‘I was wrong to leave with Michael that day, I was wrong to let him talk to you that way, and wrong to leave with him. I should’ve listened to my heart and stood by your side. I’m sorry, Daniel. And I’m here now, if you still want me.’

There was a pause, and all she seemed to be able to hear in the crowded bar was her own heartbeat.

‘You used Jim’s phone,’ he said, at last.

‘I lost mine,’ she said. ‘I think it got stolen on the way over.’

‘Oh,’ he said. ‘I sent you a song. Two songs in fact, but the first was an accident, too cheerful by half, so then I sent you another, just this morning, so you’d know for sure that I was certifiably insane.’

‘Oh! God, Daniel, sorry, I’m so sorry,’ she said, the words tumbling out of her mouth. ‘I did get Donovan, but I was with Stella in Lisbon, and I’d have replied, I would, I knew what I wanted to send, but then—’

He placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Hush,’ he said. ‘Hush. Never mind.’

‘Oh, but I’m sorry, Daniel. I’m sorry about so many things, and one of them is not replying at once to “Sunshine Superman”.’

His face remained impassive, unsure, but she gave him a tentative smile, and it tugged at his heart. Seeing her standing there before him with all that anxious love in her eyes – it was golden balm for his soul. He loved her so much. He loved her so much she might never truly know the length, breadth, and depth of his feelings.

‘What were you going to send?’ he asked.

‘The Cure,’ she said at once. ‘“Lovesong”.’

He nodded. ‘Whenever I’m alone with you …’

‘… you make me feel like I am home again.’

Now they both smiled. Then she put her head on one side and said, ‘Certifiably insane?’

‘Psychotic,’ he said. ‘I never expected to see you again, so you got – or you didn’t get – “I Want You”. Unequivocally deranged.’

‘Ah,’ she said. ‘Yeah, God, that song.’

‘You put me through hell,’ he said. ‘You know that, don’t you?’

‘I do know, I do, but never again. I love you now, and I loved you then, and, if you’ll allow me to, I’ll love you for ever.’ She spoke simply, matter-of-factly stating her case, and Dan couldn’t speak, he didn’t know why – and yet he did know why.

‘I want you,’ she said. ‘My Sheffield boy.’

She was so much more on top of this situation than he was. She looked at him, mute and helpless before her. ‘Let’s just go to the boat,’ she said.