‘Because your father was my first and last true love. You see, I met David when I was sixteen. He chose your name, by the way. On the day I first met him, he introduced himself: “I’m David,” he said. “My father was David, my grandfather was David, and when I have a son, I’ve no doubt he’ll be a David too. Or more likely a Dave these days, it’s more modern, isn’t it?”’ Shelly sat there smiling. ‘I was crying in the town centre. He was trying to cheer me up. “I come from a long line of Davids,” he said. I ended up laughing, it sounded so ridiculous. Your father’s middle name was John, so you were named David John, DJ.’ Remembering the moment, Shelly smiled, then she filled up and placed a hand over her mouth for a moment to stop herself sobbing. ‘My mother had just been killed, you see . . . in the most tragic accident on Christmas Eve. I was depressed like you can’t imagine. Your father was incredible. The kindest, most understanding person I’d ever met. I was so alone it hurt, but when I was with him, he took all my pain away. At the most difficult time in my life, your father, David John Evans, gave me hope and determination.’

‘David John Evans,’ he whispered as if testing the words.

Shelly nodded. ‘I asked the people who adopted you if they would keep your name, it was important to me, and they agreed on David John. Although I hadn’t known your father long, he really made me feel I was worth something. I passed my exams, got through university, and built myself a successful business, all because of him.’

‘Sounds like an amazing story. I don’t know anything about him. On my birth certificate it says, father unknown.’

‘That was my choice. I wanted to keep you. I wanted you to have my name. Of course, that was impossible. I had no support. My father was having a breakdown after my mother’s death. Then his sixteen-year-old daughter tells him she’s pregnant. Can you imagine? Anyway, despite my objections, he insisted you would be better off growing up with a family desperate for a child. One that could afford all the things that would give you a good life.’ Shelly sighed and sat back. ‘It was a difficult time. Did you have a good childhood?’

‘I did. My parents had a daughter, my sister April, quite unexpectedly when I was eight. Six months later, we emigrated to Australia. I came back to study at Cambridge and as I was here, I thought I’d try and find you.’

‘Cambridge! Goodness. What are you reading?’

‘Marine biology.’ He stared at Shelly. ‘What’s wrong, you look startled?’