‘I was working in the garden, and then Lexi had to change her outfit four times. And I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea…’ She paused, staring at the label on the bottle. ‘This stuff is disgusting.’

‘It’s an acquired taste. And now?’

‘I still don’t know if it’s a good idea. I’ve never been so confused in my life.’

Evanna was back at the table, rearranging salads and plates. Ryan saw the happy smile on her lips and ground his teeth. Suddenly he felt protective—Jenna ought to be able to get out and spread her wings socially without being made to feel that everything she did was being analysed and gossiped about.

He was about to intervene when Kirsty, Evanna’s six-year-old daughter, sprinted across the sand and launched herself at Lexi. ‘Lex—Lex, I want to show you my swimming.’

Ryan watched as the teenager stooped to pick the little girl up. ‘Wow. Lucky me. I can’t wait to see.’ She was a million miles from the moody, sullen teenager who had dragged her feet off the ferry a month before.

The little girl’s smile spread right across her face as she bounced in Lexi’s arms. ‘I can swim without armbands.’

‘Really? That’s cool.’

‘Watch me.’

‘Please would you watch me.’ Evanna tipped dressing from a jug onto a bowl of salad leaves. ‘Manners, Kirsty.’

‘Pleeeease—’

Lexi grinned. ‘Sure. But don’t splash me. It took me ages to get my hair straight.’ Her face suddenly turned scarlet, and Ryan glanced round and saw Fraser strolling across the sand towards them, a lopsided grin on his face.

‘Hey, if it isn’t the city girl.’ He wore his board shorts low on his hips and carried a football under his arm. ‘We were wondering when you were going to get here. You going to swim for us, Kirst?’

Ryan felt Jenna tense beside him and saw Lexi’s shoulders stiffen.

‘This is my mum—’ She waved a hand awkwardly towards Jenna. ‘This is Fraser.’

‘Hi, Fraser.’ Jenna’s voice was friendly. ‘Nice to meet you.’

‘Hi, Mrs Richards.’ With an easy smile Fraser pushed his sun-bleached hair out of his eyes and kicked the football towards his friends. ‘Evanna, is it OK if we take Kirsty swimming?’

‘You’d be doing me a favour.’ Evanna didn’t hesitate. ‘Don’t let her get her own way too often.’

With Kirsty still in her arms, Lexi slid off her shoes and walked barefoot across the sand with Fraser. Close, but not touching.

Watching Jenna sink her teeth into her lower lip, Ryan sighed. ‘Relax.’

‘Lexi isn’t old enough to have responsibility for Kirsty. I’d better follow them.’

He wondered who she was worried about—Kirsty or her own daughter.