On the morning of Max’s departure for Oxford, Sam suddenly raises concerns about using Cara’s car for their house-hunting expedition.

‘After all,’ he says as they sit at breakfast, ‘you don’t know your way around this area and you need to be getting a good idea of where you might like to live. How can you do that if you’re driving? I suggest I go home and pick up my car. I didn’t drive it over because parking is difficult in Salcombe, but now I can use Max’s space in the boatyard.’

There is a short silence. She glances at Max, who is considering this plan but without any kind of alarm and anxiety. Cara is relieved. She has no idea what kind of driver Sam might be, or what kind of car he might own.

‘I think that sounds very sensible,’ Max says to him. ‘These lanes can be pretty scary for anyone who hasn’t grown up around them, and Cara won’t get much idea of the country whilst she’s trying to follow directions and avoiding tractors. Tell you what, why don’t I drop you off at The Keep on my way upcountry? After all, it’s hardly any distance off my road, is it? Then you can drive back? Is that a plan?’

‘It’s a very good plan,’ says Sam enthusiastically. ‘And Cara can come with us and meet Fliss and Hal.’

Just for a moment Cara experiences a little flick of panic.

‘But if you’re leaving in the next hour, Max, I think that’s a bit unfair to Fliss and Hal, don’t you?’ she suggests. ‘They’ll have hardly finished breakfast.’

‘You won’t faze them,’ answers Sam confidently. ‘I’ll call them now and give them a heads-up.’

He pushes his chair back from the table and disappears downstairs. Max grins at Cara.

‘Definitely a leader of men,’ he says. ‘Are you OK with this?’

‘If you’re sure they won’t mind,’ she replies, still trying to subdue the foolish panic. Suddenly she feels fearful at the thought of Max going. The now familiar sense of being untethered, of being utterly alone, assails her. ‘It just seems a bit impolite.’

‘Honestly,’ he tells her, ‘there won’t be a problem. Sam will handle it.’

‘Yes,’ she says. ‘Yes, I’m beginning to think you’re right.’