When I thought back to the day Joe told me about the crash, I was certain that he’d never said that Sam had been the one driving. At the time it didn’t register because given that it was Sam’s car, I thought it was obvious, but now I knew the truth. Joe hadn’t pointed the finger of blame at Sam because he wasn’t the one responsible.

‘What a day,’ I sighed, as I thought back over everything that had happened with Dad and Sophie too.

Hope smiled and nodded in agreement. The guys didn’t know the half of it. It was little wonder I felt so exhausted.

‘I don’t know about you lot,’ Hope yawned, ‘but I’m all in. I think I’m going to call it a night.’

She stood up, stretched out her back and then offered a hand to pull me to my feet. She was clearly intent on giving the guys some ‘alone time’ and I didn’t think that was a bad idea at all.

‘I’m with you on that one,’ I said, quickly kissing Sam before she pulled me up. ‘I’ll walk back with you, Hope.’

Once off the sand, we linked arms and when out of earshot began quietly discussing our day.

‘Sisters,’ said Hope, squeezing me into her side. ‘Can you believe it?’

‘I couldn’t to begin with,’ I admitted, ‘but I’m quickly getting used to the idea.’

‘Well, that’s because I’m so brilliant,’ giggled Hope, with a hip-swaying swagger. ‘Who wouldn’t want me as a cool younger sister?’

‘Exactly,’ I laughed. ‘Brilliant and modest. Two very admirable Tyler qualities.’

‘You know,’ she said confidentially, lowering her voice even though there was no one else around, ‘this was what Sam and I argued about.’

‘What?’

‘I wanted to start searching for my dad,’ she told me, ‘but am said I shouldn’t. I think he was worried that it might upset Mum, but then lo and behold Dad turns up anyway and it turns out the pair of them have been in touch for years!’

‘And how do you feel about that?’ I asked her.

‘I was a bit miffed to begin with,’ she admitted.

I could understand that.

‘But it wasn’t as if I’d ever really wanted to know who he was before. I had always been more than happy that it was just me and Mum.’

‘So, what changed your mind?’