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Their eyes met and for a small moment Shauna felt a little connection pass between them. ‘OK’ sounded like music to her ears right now. ‘When will you leave?’

‘Today. Christian has stowed my things on his boat, and he’s going to take me to Rhodes to catch a flight back to England.’

‘No, I will take you to Rhodes on the St Helena,’ Demetrios said. ‘I insist. It is the least I can do.’

Shauna, Roxy and Alex stood on the quay as Christian took Grace’s rucksack on board the St Helena.

‘Are you sure you won’t come with us?’ Demetrios asked Shauna, as he prepared to follow.

‘No, I think one biological parent on the journey is probably enough. You can show her the ropes.’

‘Christian tells me she is quite a good sailor already.’

‘Why doesn’t that surprise me?’

‘You and I created a very beautiful and creative daughter.’

‘Her mum and dad must be wonderful people.’

‘Shauna, there is something I want to say to you before you leave Ithos. When I wrote to you before, I was serious about telling you how I feel.’

‘Demetrios, we’ve said so much already.’

‘Maybe, but let me speak – this may be my last chance and I don’t know when we will see each other again.’

He was standing so close to her now, Shauna could smell the familiar aroma of citrus and sandalwood. ‘I’m listening.’

Demetrios took her hands and held them in his own. ‘I fell in love with you when I hardly knew what the word meant. But after you were gone, I had time to learn. Now, looking back, I can see that you were the one truth in my life. With every woman who has come since, I was only trying to recapture what we had, always destined to fail.’

‘I loved Dan, Demetrios. He meant the world to me and put me back together again.’

‘I am glad to hear it. But please, Shauna, give me one more chance to love you again? To love you as a man, not as a boy.’

Shauna lifted his hand and brought his palm to her cheek, holding it there, feeling his rough skin, the hands that could mould and shape the wood that built his boats. Could she put her heart in these hands again?

‘Give me some time, Demetrios. I don’t know my own mind yet. It’s not just about being sure of you, I need to be sure of myself too.’

He nodded and brushed her lips lightly with his own. ‘I have plenty of time. When and if you are ready, I will be waiting for you.’

They turned at the sound of footsteps. Grace was approaching, accompanied by Níko and Teresa and Elana and Ariana. They came to a halt beside the gangplank and Grace turned to hug Níko and Teresa and thank them for their kindness.

Then it was Ariana’s turn. ‘Perhaps I’ll see you in England,’ she said, breaking off from their embrace to cast a glance at her father. ‘I’ve decided I might take up my place at university in the autumn after all. I miss England a bit – sun, sand and scenery can get a little boring,’ she said.

‘You can come and stay with me and my parents – you might enjoy slumming it with us.’

‘I’ll bring my own butler,’ Ariana answered, and the two girls laughed.

Elana stepped forward. ‘Having another granddaughter has made this old woman very happy.’ She held out her hand and passed something to Grace. It was a blue amulet in the shape of an eye, known as a mati. Grace had seen charms like it all over Greece; it was made from blown glass hanging from a silver chain. ‘This will protect you and keep you safe,’ she said, embracing her.

‘Thank you, it’s beautiful.’ Grace put the amulet around her neck.

‘Are you ready?’ Demetrios asked.

Grace nodded and turned to Roxy and Shauna.

‘Remember, if you ever decide you want to work in fashion, you known where I am,’ Roxy said.

Grace rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t know one end of a needle from another. Give me a reef knot to tie or a tiller to turn.’