DJ grinned, loving Gordon’s mischief. He turned to Shelly. ‘Tell me about your holiday, Mum.’ His eyes flicked to hers, testing the word again.

‘Wreck diving, wildlife and travel photography, and chill. Diving’s my passion. The Greek seabed’s littered with ships, and I’ve visited quite a few – but I only discovered the wrecks of Kea recently. To tell the truth, I was going to cancel. Worried about Dad, you know?’

‘Sounds exciting. Look, if it makes you feel better, I’ll keep an eye on Gordon.’

‘Aye, don’t talk about me like I’m not here!’

‘Sorry, Gramps.’ DJ’s smile turned to a frown and a distant look came to his eyes. ‘Don’t I remember you saying my dad wanted to be a diver?’

‘’Ere, he doesn’t know what happened, does he, Shelly?’

Shelly shook her head. The room tilted. She struggled to speak. ‘Yes. David was teaching me to snorkel,’ she muttered closing her eyes. In an instant, she could see him through her mask, her scream weird in the snorkel tube, then she realised she was holding her breath. Startled, she filled her lungs and then groaned as the past flooded through her. ‘It was a long time ago, DJ. A year in my life that I’d rather forget.’ She went over to the window and stared into the darkness so her father and son could not see the lie, or the tears. With the tips of her fingers, she blotted the tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes. She felt them watching, and the silence behind her said they’d caught the quiver in her voice.

*

The next weekend, Shelly gazed through the windscreen, her thoughts miles away. She had a small suitcase of holiday clothes and a large suitcase of Gran Gertie’s memorabilia in the boot. She had worked hard to get Gertie’s nurse’s uniforms washed and ironed in time for the trip. Was she making a mistake, giving the family history away? After all, if things went south with Harry . . .

She turned to touch the arm of her driver. ‘DJ, it was really good of you to stay the night, and run me to the airport on your way home. She tapped her forehead and shook her head. ‘It’s all happened so fast, I’m still reeling. Amazing that you had the courage to track me down. I thought hearts only broke with sadness, but my heart’s completely shattered by happiness. Thank you.’

She sat in the passenger seat of DJ’s battered Beetle. Next to her feet was an odd sock that clearly needed a wash, and scattered around that, some small change, one and two pence coins mostly. Between the seats, a burger box stuffed with rubbish told her he had hurriedly tidied the car in her honour. She smiled, recalling her student days, then glanced at the fuel gauge.