‘Hi, yes. Are you running trips to Bardsey Island?’

‘Today?’ He laughs incredulously. ‘I’m sorry, but you’ve had a wasted journey. The tourist season’s finished for the year. The holiday cottages are closed now and most of the islanders have left for winter.’

I feel the blood drain from my face. ‘But I need to visit someone … family. She lives in the lighthouse cottage.’

‘Sarah?’

My mother’s name is Sarah. He says it like he’s tossing away loose change, yet it’s worth everything to me.

‘Yes. Is she still on the island?’

‘Oh aye, she’s the only one that stays in winter. She hasn’t said anything about a visitor, mind.’ He looks me up and down. ‘I’m guessing you’re one of Gwen’s girls. Sarah’s niece?’

‘Yes,’ I lie, happy to let him believe anything if it means he’ll take me. Tom shoots me an uncertain look and I wrap my arms around myself. I have an aunt – my mother at least had some family, she wasn’t all alone in the world. Does Gwen know her sister abandoned me? Where is she now?

The boatman glances out to sea. ‘I don’t know how long it’s been since you last saw your aunt, but Sarah isn’t the type to have visitors. She’s …’

‘I know all about her. It’s fine. Please, it’s important I see her.’

He sighs and strokes his moustache. ‘As it happens, I’m heading to the island now. I’m returning tomorrow, but I don’t know when I’ll be going again. It might be a week or more until I can bring you back.’

My shoulders sag with relief. ‘Thank you.’

‘I’m David and that’s my cousin,’ he says, pointing to his companion who’s now heading towards the tractor. We watch the man haul himself into the seat, then drive it forward and position it at the front of the boat. David raises his arm in signal then turns to Tom. ‘Are you going to get your bags then?’

‘Actually, it’s just me going,’ I say.

The boatman strokes the fuzzy caterpillar attached to his upper lip and sniffs. ‘You’re not going together?’

I shake my head and he huffs. ‘I’m afraid that changes things. The island isn’t a place for a young ’un to be travelling alone.’

‘I’m seventeen.’

‘That may be so, but I’m not taking you by yourself.’

My hands clench. ‘Why, because I’m a girl?’

Tom steps forward. ‘Ivy can take care of herself, honestly.’

David heaves a sigh and slaps Tom on the back. ‘Son, you need to understand that the island isn’t like other places. There’s no roads, no electricity, no running water. The mobile signal is non-existent and there’s no help available if your friend here gets into trouble. Conditions can change like that.’ He clicks his fingers for emphasis. ‘One summer, I took some tourists across for the day and a storm came in. They were stranded there for three weeks. So you see, I’m not about to leave anyone over there by themselves.’