As Max drinks his tea and watches the two women he wonders if it was her capacity to take responsibility, to be reliable, that first attracted him to Judith. After his indifferent, disinterested mother, Judith’s strength and capability was a novelty. Her need to be in control has been an asset to her as a naval wife and the mother of two boys, but now he is retired Max is beginning to find it an exhausting quality to live with on a daily basis. He’s enjoyed this brief respite with Sam and Cara, the jokes and laughter, the impromptu visits to the pub. He really misses Christopher, now that he’s moved to Dubai. Chris is more volatile, more ready to take risks than Paul, but he’s also great fun. He comes home each summer for what he calls ‘some R and R’ and they go sailing, walking, checking out old haunts together. His visit is the high point of Max’s year.

Max has had the third degree in the car about how long Cara would be staying and where she might live but there seems to be another matter on Judith’s mind. Something is distracting her and he can’t quite decide what it might be. Perhaps it’s simply the arrival of their second granddaughter that’s preoccupying her thoughts, and the usual annoyance of being sidelined by Freya’s mother, although it’s natural that Freya should want her mother with her at a time like this.

Max finishes his tea, rinses his mug under the tap and stands it on the draining board. He feels disquieted. He knows that Judith won’t want Cara with them for too long yet how can he possibly ask her to leave?

‘I’m going to take Oscar out for a walk,’ he says. ‘Shan’t be long,’ and he and Oscar clatter down the stairs and out into the late afternoon sunshine.

He walks down Buckley Street, letting his hand brush over the feverfew that is still flowering on the stone wall opposite, glancing between the houses to the harbour beyond. The evenings are drawing in and the sun is already slipping behind the hill. He decides to walk round to the head of the creek and back again. He still feels edgy, knowing that he didn’t find out the real reason for Sam’s visit, and still worrying about Cara. As he comes out of Island Street he sees Amy walking ahead of him. He is about to shout to her when a young man with a dog steps out from between two boats parked in the boatyard into her path. It’s clear from the affectionate greeting that this is an assignation. Amy bends to stroke the dog, and then they all walk on together.