‘Call in the next petrol station and let me fill her up.’

After a gentle argument and the rationale that a taxi would have cost more, they arrived at the airport with almost a full tank. Shelly persuaded DJ to stay and have breakfast with her before she went through passport control and he continued to Cambridge.

‘I understand that you want to know about your father,’ she said. ‘It’s only natural. The thing is, I find it very difficult to talk about him. Although I was terribly young, I loved him very much. I still do in a way. He took away all my anger and self-blame about my mother’s death. I would certainly not have made it through to university if he hadn’t guided me back on track.’ She lowered her eyes and smiled. ‘We adored each other.’ She paused and quietly reminisced.

‘What happened?’ he asked.

Shelly swallowed hard. ‘There was an accident. A terrible accident that happened abroad. I lied to my dad, he thought I was on a school trip. We went to a Greek island called Paros. David was going to teach me to dive. I hadn’t even used a snorkel before. I was so excited, mostly because I felt I’d grown up and that somebody loved me. You know how it is? I thought I was invincible. I guess it’s the same for all teenagers.’

DJ nodded. ‘I’ve been there.’

‘Where, Paros?’

‘No, believing I’m invincible. Just growing out of it; realising I don’t know everything and if I don’t swot like hell, I won’t get my degree.’

Shelly smiled sympathetically. ‘God, it’s so hard, isn’t it? Everyone reaches that point when it’s tempting to throw the towel in, DJ, but believe me, it’s worth the slog in the end.’

‘Sometimes, the pressure’s astronomical, and I’m convinced I’ll fail my finals. It’s easy to understand why people drop out. I mean, it sounds so wimpy, but hell, nobody knows . . .’

‘I know. I did it, and you’re my son. I’m damned sure you can do it too. I’m sure you’ll be fine come exam time. But you know what? If you fail, it’s no big deal. You can do it again. Don’t beat yourself up over it, just do your best.’

‘Thanks.’

Her thoughts spooled back to that Greek holiday. ‘I told you about the bracelet, didn’t I? The one my mother was going to collect when she was hit by the car.’

He nodded. ‘You did.’

‘Well, your dad, his friend Simon, and I stayed in the most beautiful little village in the world, Naoussa, on the island of Paros.’ She realised she was holding her wrist. ‘Although that bracelet had taken my mother from me, it sort of brought your father to me as well. How could I know it would take him away too?’