‘Of course we can – it’ll take me at least that to herd these two terrors back to the boat,’ Emma laughed. ‘We’ll see you at the pier – whenever you’re ready.’

Anna left the door open, hearing the shout and chatter of the boys as they headed down the sea wall. She grabbed an extra layer and her coat before pulling on her walking boots and following. The hubbub from the waiting boat floated towards her, but to her surprise it wasn’t the outline of the Cassie’s Joy that she saw. Instead a larger pleasure craft with a sleek, shining white hull and chrome rails crouched beside Crovie’s pier. Fraser was at the helm, a ridiculously small skipper’s hat perched precariously on his head: Anna had a hunch it belonged to his son. Emma was towards the rear of the boat, busily wrestling the two boys into life jackets that they were vocally protesting as being ‘for silly bairns!’ A new uneasiness rattled in Anna’s gut as she realized this wasn’t Robert’s boat.

‘Ahoy there, landlubber!’ Fraser shouted, catching sight of her. ‘Ready for an adventure on the high seas?’

‘If you’ve got room for one more,’ Anna said, as she finally saw Robert MacKenzie. He was crouched on the deck beside Fraser, his back to her, tying down a folded tarp. He didn’t even turn his head at the sound of her voice, which only caused the growing doubt to sink even deeper into her bones. The substance of his son’s excited words as he’d stood on the doorstep of the Fishergirl’s Luck came back to her, their meaning finally and far too late marked out in the flow.

Dad said no.

Robert hadn’t wanted her to join them – why would he, after their awkward parting the day before? But it wasn’t his boat and he’d been overruled by Fraser and Emma. Anna wished she’d stuck to her original conviction that staying at home would be a better idea.

‘Of course there’s room,’ Fraser said. ‘Come on, get yourself aboard.’

Old Robbie finally got up, turning around as Anna stepped onto the boat. He gave her a smile that was slightly reserved and came closer as Fraser began to pull out into open water.

‘Morning,’ he said quietly, beneath the roar of the boat’s engine.

‘Hi.’

‘How are you?’

‘Fine, thanks.’

There was a slight commotion from the other end of the boat. Anna looked past Robert to see Emma wrestling with Young Robbie, as if trying to stop him from coming towards them.

‘Robbie said you didn’t want me to come.’

‘I didn’t want you to feel put on the spot after I offended you so badly yesterday.’