I could ask him what he means by that, or I could tell him that I have never felt more at peace than I do now, on this spot and in his arms. I could say that if the Basket of Dreams below us really is spinning outward for eternity, then there is only one man that I would want to be with for the ride.

But I don’t say any of those things, because Kit is already kissing me. On and on we kiss, dissolving into each other until my limbs begin to buckle and my heart pounds with joy, only breaking off when we have to in order to breathe, and to look at each other in bewilderment, searching for and finding the love reflected right back.

Kit runs a tentative hand through my hair, allowing himself a small sigh as he whispers some more beautiful and mysterious words into my ear.

‘That’s another Maori saying, isn’t it?’ I murmur.

He pulls me closer.

‘It’s what my pa said to me right after he told me that he was sick. And he said it right here, right on this spot. Now, I want to pass it on to you.’

He falls silent, and as I wait for him to continue, I remember how small I felt when I arrived here, how insignificant in a country overflowing with so much life and vitality. But rather than diminish here, I have flourished. I have grown and I have blossomed; I have forgiven and I have fallen in love – with my family, with Kit, and with myself.

‘Come on, then,’ I say. ‘Tell me what it means.’

‘It means,’ he says, bending his head to kiss me, ‘that life is not forever, but love is.’

Acknowledgements

Heartfelt thanks to you, my dear reader. Thank you for choosing this book when there are so many out there in the world, and thank you for choosing to keep on reading, too. Us writers would be nothing without our readers, and it is to you that we all owe the greatest debt of gratitude. If you would like to chat to me about anything I have written/am writing, please come and find me on Twitter and Instagram @isabelle_broom, or on Facebook under Isabelle Broom Author.