She set down a glass of rosé in front of him, and it caught the light. His eyes fell to the pretty flesh tone, the promise of summer. ‘Well, there was a fright last week with Jakob, the harbourmaster – did you hear about his accident?’

His brow furrowed. ‘No. What happened?’

‘He tripped and fell in the water when the ferry was docking.’

His eyebrows shot up in alarm. ‘No!’

‘It’s okay. He’ll live. The bow thrusters were on, but not the engines. But he could have been crushed against the walls, of course.’

‘Is he all right?’

‘He’s in hospital with a badly broken leg. They had to put in metal plates and pins. He’s in a bad way, poor man; his wife says he can’t tolerate the morphine.’

He winced. ‘Talk about kicking a guy when he’s down.’

‘I know,’ she agreed. ‘He’s being very brave, though. Apparently he’s loving all the fuss. The entire island’s been to visit him, just about.’

‘It’ll make a change him being the subject of gossip for once, and not just the bearer.’

‘Indeed.’

They clinked glasses, eyes meeting momentarily in a soft embrace, and he felt that sense of ease descend over him that he got any time she was near. It felt so good to be back; he had long ago realized she was his home. Linus waddled back into the room, falling inelegantly onto his bottom as he tried to pick up his favourite toy, a vintage matchbox car – a red Corvette, by the looks of it.

He looked back at her, seeing how her gaze dipped and skipped away from him as the small talk dwindled. She was flighty and nervous. ‘And you? How are you? Really? You sounded down last time I called. I’ve been worried.’

‘Oh, I’m fine.’ She bit her lip, her body language changing. ‘I shouldn’t have thrown it all at you, like that, I’m sorry. You’re so busy and—’

‘Hanna.’ He stopped her short. ‘You don’t ever need to apologize to me. You know that.’

She bit her lip and nodded. ‘I know. And I know it’s just hormones, the doctor keeps telling me that.’ Her brow furrowed quizzically. ‘I just thought it would have passed by now. I mean, he’s walking! You’d think I’d be through it by now . . . I want to get back to feeling like my old self again, you know?’

He nodded. Her hand was lying flat on the table, and he reached over and held it in his. ‘We all want that too. Because you do know how very loved you are, don’t you?’

For a moment, a flash of her old playfulness tripped over her like a sunbeam and she tossed her head haughtily. ‘No, I’m not sure I do. How loved am I, exactly?’

Their eyes met, the connection vibrating like a gold thread between them. ‘Only to the stars and back, and for all of eternity.’

He had never meant a word more, but he waited for one of her more waspish remarks. But though her mouth opened, she looked away, something unsaid residing in her profile. He frowned as her silence lengthened. ‘Hanna . . .?’