‘Not like in the past.’ She blushed, thinking of Jacob once finding her and Alex in a state of some undress in one of the tenders pulled up onto the beach. She looked at him closely and said, ‘You were the one who found my grandfather.’

He nodded. ‘Your mother was asking me about it and now you are.’ He reeled in his line and rebaited it. ‘They are hungry this morning but cautious.’ He cast the line. ‘It was a long time ago. I never will forget. But I’ve learned somethings are best left in the past.’

‘Is that what you told Mum?’

‘Yes. Told her there was never any good in digging up dead bodies. Things always stink.’ He chuckled. ‘Don’t think she paid any attention. She’s spent her whole career uncovering the awful things in life.’

Lottie couldn’t deny that.

‘The bow?’

‘Pat’s been talking.’

She nodded.

‘Mr Trewin had a bow in his hand when I found him.’ He sighed. ‘When I came back with Pat, it was gone.’

‘What happened?’

‘Don’t know. But it don’t matter now.’

Lottie frowned.

‘Best to look for the good.’ He smiled, and his sun-worn face lit up. ‘Alex is coming for you.’

‘Thanks, Jacob. Good luck with the fishing.’

He waved and she met Alex on the rocks. ‘Not letting go?’

She shook her head.

‘Are you better off for what you know?’ He held out a hand when she slipped on a slime-covered rock.

‘I wasn’t given any choice. Gran wanted me to forgive her and Mum too. We did, but neither of us knew what she was asking.’

‘If you had would it change what you said?’

‘I honestly don’t know.’ She looked up to Boskenna glowing white in the morning sun. ‘I don’t know, but I see Gramps is awake.’

‘Don’t trouble him with this.’

She turned to him. ‘I know you care for him. I love him, but he was here, and he went along with Gran’s lies.’ She squinted, trying to see what Gramps was doing but it was just too far for her to focus. Something wasn’t right. She just didn’t know what. ‘That tells me he knows something, maybe not everything. But he’s no fool.’ She walked across the sand.

‘Lottie!’ Alex stood feet apart and hands at his side lightly clenched. ‘Wait.’

She stopped and turned to him.

‘When you find your answers, what will you do?’ He walked towards her.

‘What does that matter? As you’ve pointed out, Gran won’t be with us for much longer.’

‘Will you tell your mother?’

She looked at him and then the gentle waves caressing the sand. ‘After the fiasco of ten years ago, I promised her I would always tell the truth . . . if asked.’ She swallowed, thinking of what she hadn’t told anyone here. But they hadn’t asked. She hadn’t lied.