‘Well,’ said Anna, smiling despite her discomfort. ‘That sounds to me as if she definitely didn’t win for once.’

‘No, she did not,’ the boy said emphatically. ‘And she was not happy. She’ll try even harder for the next one now. You’ll have to help me again.’

‘I’m always happy to help you,’ Anna said, and hugged him tighter, aware of how very true the words were.

After that, Anna tried to ask him as many questions about dolphins as she could come up with. It was as much to distract herself as it was to keep Robbie awake. She couldn’t have left him on his own down here and there was no way Anna would have sent Frank down the cliff himself, but now her thoughts rotated around an unquenchable fear. What about the baby? Is it all right? What have I done?

Even with her chef’s internal clock, Anna had no idea how long they sat there. The wind dropped but the rain persisted, even as the clouds began to break overhead. It was the horn they heard first, a low bellow that echoed against the rock over their heads. Robbie moved against Anna, pushing himself up.

‘That’s the lifeboat!’ the boy shouted, as the sound came again. ‘That’s my dad!’

The lifeboat ploughed into view, pushing through the wash as it turned towards the cove, Robert MacKenzie standing at its prow. As soon as it got close enough he was over the side and into the water, splashing towards them as if he were racing the waves to the shore. Robbie scrambled up and ran towards his dad. When Robert reached his son he collapsed to his knees in the wet sand, crushing the boy to him.

‘I’m sorry, Dad,’ Anna could hear Young Robbie saying against his dad’s shoulder. ‘I only wanted to make sure the dolphins were safe. I’m sorry.’

‘It’s all right,’ Robert told him, his cheek against his son’s hair, his face wet with rain and tears. ‘But what would I do without you? What would I do?’

More of the lifeboat crew were on land now. One wrapped a blanket around Robbie’s shoulders, another held one out to Anna. As she reached the MacKenzies, Robert grabbed her hand and pulled her down to him, wrapping an arm around her so that he held her as tightly as he held his son. After a second he pulled back to frame Anna’s face with one hand.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked. ‘Tell me you’re not hurt.’

Anna smiled through tears. ‘I’m okay,’ she said. ‘I’m okay.’

Robert studied her face before brushing his thumb against her bottom lip. Then he pulled her against him again, his face in her damp hair. Anna felt Young Robbie snake one arm around her waist, the three of them holding each other on that wet, cold shore.