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Was this Matt? Irritating, annoying, persistent Matt, the thorn in her side that had been lodged forever? ‘Can you see us growing old together now?’ she asked playfully.

‘Oh, yes. I can see us riding along the Wharf in our mobility scooters, waving our walking sticks at the seagulls stealing our ninety-nines.’

She gasped in mock outrage. ‘No way! I can see us racing in the veterans Surf Lifeguard championships and beating all the youngsters.’

‘That too,’ Matt said, laughing.

Zennor was ready to burst with happiness. ‘Now, shall we go and amaze and delight a lot of people who probably hoped this might happen all along?’

‘Yes, but not right now …’ He ran the tip of his finger along the goosebumps on her arm. ‘That fire still has some life in it and, in my professional opinion as a trained surf rescuer, I think we need to warm up a bit more.’

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Nine months later: White Rocks Boutique Hotel

‘And the award for “Best Newcomer” in the Band category of Shakey’s Cider Cornish Live Music Awards goes to …’ Shilpa seemed to take an age to remove the card from the gold envelope.

It was May and the start of the new events season. So many of Zennor’s friends and associates were at the awards, including Paul, whose award for outstanding contribution to Cornish music stood on the table in front of him and his partner.

Fumbling with the envelope, Shilpa gave a wry grin. ‘Sorry, folks … Oh …’

‘I wish she’d get on with it. This isn’t the Strictly final, for God’s sake …’ Roo whispered to Zennor as the pause lengthened to comic proportions.

Finally, Shilpa held the card aloft. ‘It’s the Driftstones!’

The room erupted in applause and cheers.

‘Whoop!’

‘Way to go!’

Zennor and Roo rose to their feet, alongside the Driftstones’ members’ families, who were sharing a table in the White Rocks function room.

The band members filed on to the stage, grinning madly and led by Marielle, who looked stunned.

Matt stood too. He was seated at the adjacent table with his mates from the Fishermen’s Choir, who’d been nominated in the Cornish Traditional Vocal category.

He caught her eye and smiled, looking impossibly handsome in a velvet jacket the colour of the night sky. Every time she looked at him, her heart still fluttered. They’d had their moments, as all couples did, and life would surely throw more in their way, but after all they’d been through, she knew that they could withstand the fiercest of storms.

Did Matt know how she felt, watching him laughing with his mates, seeing him happier than she had ever known him – and feeling that, finally, she had reached a place in her life where she was fulfilled and with the person she truly loved?

With the awards over, and a break before the band came on stage, Zennor left him enjoying the moment with his friends at the bar. She had the rest of her life to spend with him.

At that thought, her heart seemed to skip a beat and she felt the need to be alone, if only for a few moments, to appreciate how far they’d come since the start of the previous summer. She headed outside to the terrace, gazing out at the sunset, and thanked her stars over and over for the way her year and life had turned out.

She could barely believe that she and Matt would be going home to their new house overlooking the sea. He’d sold his flat and Zennor was renting hers out, unable to bear the thought of parting with the home that had been her first as a single woman.

She wasn’t alone for long. At the other end of the terrace, Marielle emerged and was taking a few breaths before her set. Like Zennor, she was probably trying to come to terms with her recent success.

Zennor made her decision and went up to her. ‘Congratulations!’

Marielle’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘Oh … thank you. I can’t believe it.’

‘Believe it,’ Zennor replied. ‘Enjoy every moment.’

‘Thanks.’ Marielle smiled but then swallowed and shook her head. ‘Zennor, I can’t go on like this. I can’t …’

‘It’s normal to be nervous and feel overwhelmed when your life changes and you finally get your dream. It takes time to come to terms with it,’ Zennor reassured her.