‘All right,’ she relented. ‘We’ll give it a go, but only if you take full responsibility. I’m holding you entirely accountable and when it all descends into chaos, I’ll be pointing the finger firmly at you,’ she warned me.

‘I can live with that,’ I shrugged, but I wasn’t sure I could.

*

Before I left the café, I picked out a bucket and net from the selection Sophie had on display and the next afternoon, when the tide had receded, I headed down to the rockpools. The beach was quiet and it wasn’t long before I was immersed in the mysterious underwater world and feeling about ten years old again.

Thankfully, my fear of finding the pools contaminated was completely unwarranted and they sparkled and shone in the sunshine, just as much as they always had. The only thing missing was Mum in her yellow sundress, occasionally looking up from her book to admire my treasured finds.

I stared in renewed wonder at a brightly coloured exotic-looking beadlet anemone as it gently swayed and then jumped when a long-spined sea scorpion darted out from under the rocks. It was so well camouflaged I hadn’t spotted it before. By contrast, the progress of two starfish was uncommonly slow, but I didn’t mind that. I had been biding my time for the perfect moment to explore and I was happy, having found everything as it should be, to hang around for them. My patience had been rewarded with an exceptionally packed pool and I was pleased that I had waited so long to rediscover it.

Almost too soon, it was time to tear myself away and I released the three little crabs, (two edible and one hermit), that I had carefully scooped up and deposited into the bucket for closer inspection. Checking my watch, I headed back to the cottage, intent on issuing Joe an invitation to the pub, even if it did mean having to fire up my phone to do it.

‘Oh,’ I smiled, as I turned up the lane and discovered I could leave my phone where it was because the man himself was here.

It took me a couple of seconds to realize who he was talking to and even though I tried not to, I couldn’t help but stare. Out of view of the pub, Joe was talking to Hope. Not that it was any of my business, but I wished I was close enough to hear what they were saying. I also wished I could see the expression on Hope’s face, but she turned away when Joe raised his hand to acknowledge me. They swiftly parted and he jogged down the lane to meet me.

‘This is a bit of a coincidence.’ I smiled, deciding not to comment on the exchange I had just seen.

‘What is?’