A Land Rover pulls out of a gateway ahead of her and Cara stamps on the brakes, realizing that she’s driving too fast. She lets it go ahead of her and follows more slowly. The sudden shock has broken the train of thought and with a huge effort she thrusts the memories away, wondering instead if Max and Sam will be back. They’ve been sailing Max’s boat up from the Bag to bring it ashore for the winter and she hopes they’ll be finished and back at the house. She needs company, distraction.

The minute that she and Oscar come through the front door she sees that she’s going to get it. There is an air of bustle, of emergency. Max’s bag stands ready packed and she can hear him talking on the telephone. As she climbs the stairs to the kitchen Sam turns to look at her. He makes a face, a kind of amused grimace and she raises her eyebrows questioningly.

‘There’s a bit of a panic,’ he says. ‘Freya’s gone into labour and her mum has arrived from Denmark. It seems that there might not be room for everyone so Max is going up to bring Judith back as soon as the baby’s born. They’ll stay in a hotel or something. It all seems a bit of a pig’s breakfast. Judith’s in a state.’

‘She and Freya’s mum don’t get on awfully well,’ Cara tells him. ‘But I expect Freya will be glad to have her mum with her.’

‘I think,’ he says rather awkwardly, ‘that I might make myself scarce if Judith’s coming home again. It’ll be a bit of a squash.’

She smiles at him, glad of his presence. ‘You mean you’re ratting on me?’

He laughs. ‘No, I’m not. But you see what I mean? It won’t be quite the same, will it?’

She laughs too. ‘It certainly won’t. You and Max sitting up late, getting rat-arsed while he yarns about his navy days … suppers down at the pub.’

‘I had a thought,’ he says, rather shyly. ‘I was wondering if you might like to come and stay at The Keep for a few days? I know Fliss and Hal would love it. Did I tell you that they’ve decided to rehome a Labrador? You must meet her.’

‘That’s very sweet of you,’ she says, touched. ‘But I’ll need to stay here and look after Oscar if Max is going to Oxford.’

‘No, I get that. I meant once they’re back again. We could do some more exploring.’

It’s odd how his thoughtfulness touches her. These days, since Philip died, small acts of unconsidered kindness almost move her to tears.

‘I’d really like that,’ she says. ‘Thanks, Sam.’