Dana squeezed Mary Kate’s hand. ‘I knew I was going to be your friend the moment I met you and found out you were from home. I just couldn’t get over the coincidence. I mean, this place, it’s so wee and no one ever goes anywhere. I just knew I was meant to be nursing your Nicholas, and I’m really glad I could be here today. We came as soon as we heard – the news ripped across the coast in minutes.’

Mary Kate smiled. ‘I was amazed to see Matron and Dr Gaskell here. He was lovely when he checked me over after I got out of the cave. He told me they’re here to advertise for nurses and that the solicitor’s going to be handling the applications for them.’

‘Yes, I take it as a compliment that they want more Dana Brogans at St Angelus.’ Dana laughed and shook her head.

‘Maybe I could help with that?’ said Mary Kate. ‘I wonder if they’d want to employ someone… I mean, I could travel back and forth on the boat, I could find girls who want to be nurses and go to Liverpool, couldn’t I?’ She turned to look at Dana. ‘I’m desperate to go back. I made a big mistake coming here, so I did. It was all wrong, my head wasn’t right, and when Nicholas said I was to come back, I’m sure now he meant for a visit.’

‘Why bother helping Matron with finding the nurses, why don’t you become one yourself? The hospital is growing, there are plenty of opportunities. St Angelus is the best place to work and I can’t imagine a job more rewarding than mine. It’s hard work though.’

‘I saw that with my own eyes,’ said Mary Kate. ‘Do you think they would have me?’ She felt a surge of life, of hope, in her veins, something she hadn’t felt since the day Nicholas died.

Dana answered without a moment’s hesitation. ‘In a flash, I reckon. Especially as Matron is at your gran’s farm tonight, being treated to some good old-fashioned Irish hospitality. Her and Dr Gaskell.’

Mary Kate groaned and put her hands over her face. ‘Oh God, no, they’ll be as drunk as lords by now and have the worst heads in the morning. Granny, nooo!’

‘I wouldn’t be worrying. I got the impression that after spending the afternoon with Mrs Doyle, Matron is smitten with the place. Why don’t I make us both a cup of tea and then you can sleep on it. I’ll go with you to ask Matron in the morning before she leaves, if you like?’

An hour later, Mary Kate was still lying on her bed, looking out of the window at the stars. She could hear Dana breathing deeply next to her once more, but her own mind was busy replaying the events of the past twenty-four hours.

‘Nicholas…’ she whispered up to the stars. She wanted him to speak to her, as he had in the cave. She heard nothing but the sound of the river. ‘I’m going home, to Liverpool, and I will become a nurse, at the same hospital you trained in. For sure it will happen, I can feel it. I’ll be close to you there, not here. You aren’t here, my love.’