‘I don’t feel badly about you wanting to see this girl at all. But I think it would be for the best if we call it a day before you do,’ she told him. ‘This is a cliché, but… it’s not you, it’s me. You’ve been honest, and I appreciate that. And you’re right, we’ve had a lot of fun, and I won’t ever regret the time we’ve had. But I think it’s run its course. Let’s leave it at that, shall we?’

The shadow of disappointment crossed Liam’s face. He looked down at their twined hands, and then lifted her fingers to kiss them, briefly.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked.

‘Yes,’ she said, smiling again. ‘I’m fine. Really. Come and say goodbye before you go back to New Zealand. We’ll sit at this bench and have one last glass of wine.’

Liam smiled at her. ‘I’ll do that.’ Then he reached out his free hand to brush her hair back from her face and leaned in to kiss her. The touch was warm, but didn’t linger. When their lips parted, so did their hands.

Anna watched as he walked back along the path in the day’s fading light. They didn’t say goodbye, but it was enough of an ending. Then she turned to face the water. Slowly she probed the throb in her chest, checking gently for damage. There was a feeling of loss, of regret, but she had never expected Liam to be a permanent fixture in her life. As handsome as he was, she hadn’t wanted him to be, either. Her heart was aching, yes, but Anna didn’t think it was really him she was aching for. It was for a connection lost. She was alone again.

She leaned back against the bench and looked at the Fishergirl’s Luck, standing as steadfast as it ever had. Solid and of itself; alone yet never lonely.