‘They’re stunning,’ she said truthfully.

He thanked her. He gave her that lovely smile again, too.

*

Olivia had booked them into the first-class lounge area of the ferry. They took their seats, looking over the water, the land beyond. He took out a book. A spy story. She was restless now. Growing more nervous. She explored the ferry. Responded to Sullivan’s Scrabble moves. Sent back a row of happy emojis when she received a selfie of him and his father on the tour bus.

She did another circuit of the ferry. It was like a luxury hotel. People talking, relaxing. One area featured a fake fireplace, the flames flickering, creating an oddly cosy atmosphere. There were couples, families, single people.

She returned to her seat as one of the staff was taking lunch orders. A middle-aged woman, jolly, chatty. Eliza was too nervous for a big meal. She ordered a sandwich. Lawrence had gone for a walk too, taking his camera with him, she noticed.

‘So are yourself and your husband off on a holiday?’ the waitress asked.

‘He’s not my husband.’

‘Sorry, your partner.’

‘He’s not my partner either.’

She lowered her voice. ‘He’s not abducting you, is he?’

‘It’s kind of a work trip.’

‘Ooh, lucky you,’ she said with a wink. ‘I do like good-looking workmates.’

*

The crossing was smooth. They were back in the car and driving out of Belfast by two p.m. An hour into their journey, Lawrence pointed out a sign. They’d crossed the border into the Republic of Ireland. The road signs were now in English and Irish, the distances in kilometres, not miles.

Her heart gave a little jolt when she saw the first sign for Trim.

‘Do you need to be there by any particular time?’ he asked.

It seemed strange that he didn’t know their plans. ‘I’m not sure how much Olivia told you —’

‘She gave me the basic details. That it’s something of a family reunion.’

It was, in some ways, she realised.

‘I’ve never met my father.’ She tried again. ‘I don’t know who my father is.’ She tried once more. ‘My mother had me when she was twenty-two. She always made it a kind of game about who my father was. She promised to tell me when I was eighteen. And . . .’ She faltered. ‘And unfortunately she died not long before my birthday.’

‘I’m very sorry.’

She couldn’t seem to stop talking now. She told him Olivia and Maxie had been helping her to find him. ‘The man in Trim I’m going to see – we know he knew Mum. He was living in Melbourne around the time she got pregnant and we think it could be him. But he was there with his cousin. It might be him too.’ She finally stopped. ‘Sorry. I’m a bit nervous.’

‘I’m not surprised.’ A pause. ‘You were very young to lose your mother.’