She had told him this, how everyone in the area knew everyone else. The Kellow family was, he had learnt, part of the fabric of the place and, as such, everyone knew not only Merrin’s history, but her present too. He was looking forward to meeting the wider Kellow clan and wanted to make the best impression. It was important. He could see a future with this girl and knew that would be so much easier if her parents approved.

Merrin parked the car on a square of tarmac next to the cobbles and honked the horn. He took a moment, slowly unclipping the seat belt, flattening his hair and rolling up the window, wanting to give her a second or two to run into the arms of her squealing mother and the woman holding a baby – Bella, he assumed – who had run from the cottage. He could not have predicted Merrin’s reaction. This girl who was always contained, efficient, quiet, mostly – it was as if her body concertinaed with loss, and she clung to her mother and friend as if they were her life support; great, gulping sobs left her body as she fought to catch a breath, as her face, instantly blotchy and twisted, spoke of such sadness it tore at his heart. Her dad, thankfully axe-free, came out of the house next door, where he knew Ruby had lived with her fiancé since their gran had passed away the year before. The man hesitated for a beat, as if he could barely cope with the intensity of emotion on display.

Miguel clambered out awkwardly, trying to give Merrin some privacy at what felt like the most intense of moments, concentrating on stretching his legs and breathing in the warm Cornish air. There was no doubt about it: this was a beautiful spot, picture-postcard perfect and right on the water; he couldn’t imagine growing up somewhere so beautiful. He thought of his tiny bedroom in his parents’ flat, which faced a main road. Growing up, his background noise had been honking horns and the wheeze of brakes, and the closest he had got to nature was when a hobbling pigeon landed on his grey window sill for a shit. But seeing this, he now properly understood her pain at having to leave it all behind.

When it seemed that Merrin had calmed a little, he turned to take in the family.

‘Home at last!’ Ben Kellow, a short, stocky man, rushed forward and folded Merrin in a tight hug. Both were a little overcome with emotion, and he understood; two years was a long time not to see your child. ‘What a wonderful thing! My little Merrin Mercy.’ Ben let her go and studied her, as if examining her face for change. ‘How we’ve missed you. In’t that right, Heather?’