Hanna nodded slowly. ‘Pappa pretended he forgot, because this island is privately owned, so you wouldn’t have been allowed over to play. But now you can.’

‘How will I find it?’

She smiled. ‘Trust me, you will. The Soviets accidentally dropped a bomb here on their way to a missile test site during the Second World War and – pow! – the hidden beach was created. It’s completely invisible from the sea. That’s why no one else knows about it. Only the people lucky enough to get to stay here.’

His interest was piqued – that was worthy of a Bond lair – and Hanna’s face brightened momentarily in response to his expression. ‘The fun is in finding it.’

Bell wasn’t so sure. How could a beach be hidden? They weren’t like socks kicked under the bed.

‘Trust me, you’ll love it here,’ Hanna went on, her voice thickening suddenly. ‘You were always supposed to play in this garden, darling. When you were a baby, I would think about how exciting it would be for you when you were a big boy of ten, able to go exploring. You’re so lucky.’

Had it not been for the way her voice splintered on the last word, her proclamations might have been convincing. Instead, Linus threw his arms around her neck. ‘I don’t want to be lucky. I want to be with you.’

There was an anguished silence as they gripped each other with tightly squeezed shut eyes. ‘And you will be, darling. Very, very soon. I promise.’

Bell saw the tears begin to stream, and watched as Hanna quickly pulled down her sunglasses from the top of her head as she pulled back from him. She tried to gather herself, glancing up at the house again and falling still as she saw someone standing there, watching them. Bell followed her gaze. A white-haired man was standing there, Linus’s suitcase positioned by his legs.

She watched Hanna turn back to her son again. There was something different in her expression now. ‘In the meantime, you’ve got Bell. She’ll be with you all the time. You won’t ever be alone here. Bell will look after you, as she always does.’

Linus nodded, his green eyes flashing between their two faces, but it was to his mother’s that his gaze returned. ‘You promise you’ll come back?’

‘Nothing can stop me.’ She forced a smile that fooled no one. ‘Now go up to the house and Måns will look after you.’

‘Who’s Måns?’

‘A very kind man who’ll help take care of you.’

‘Aren’t you coming?’ This time, it was Linus’s voice that shook.

‘It’s better if I leave you here today. But I’ll visit, I promise. I’m just across the water, remember that.’ Hanna rose to standing again. ‘Now off you go. Be a good boy for Mamma. And your father.’

Linus stared up at her, his shoulders heaving like an ocean swell, unformed emotions rolling through him like a storm. ‘. . . What if he screams again?’