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‘So you and Greg – is this a one-off or do you think there might be more in it?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe. We’d both like there to be. We’re going to see how things go. Our lives are poles apart but the chemistry is off the scale. I don’t think I could stay away even if I wanted to. I’m determined not to carry a torch for Guy when all hope is gone. I’m no Anne Elliot and he’s definitely no Captain Wentworth!’

Katie hugged Athene. ‘This is so great to hear. I’m so pleased for you.’

‘It is and thank you for inviting me up here. It’s been an eye-opener in more ways than one but please don’t say anything to your aunt about Greg. I’d die of embarrassment. You can tell Jess, but I suppose she’s already worked out where I’ve been.’

‘My lips are sealed but as for Wanda, I think you might find she’s not as naïve as we think.’

Despite her exhaustion, Katie didn’t sleep as well as she’d hoped on that final night, and when she woke in the morning, she found stripping the beds depressing. The removal of the sheets and the bare mattress and duvet seemed symbolic of stripping away the excitement, the highs and the lows of the past fortnight.

All too soon it was time to meet Arlo. He arrived at the house and insisted on helping everyone with the luggage. Katie distracted herself with the bustle of packing and loading and returning to check the cupboards and drawers umpteen times. Athene had left her phone on the kitchen table and Jess found a packet of vintage postcards down the side of the sofa, along with a soggy dog chew.

Finally, when everyone had confirmed they had car keys, purses and every conceivable digital device, they left the building.

Katie was the last to leave, lingering in the hallway, ready to formally thank Arlo for hosting them and hand over a set of keys she had never had to use. For one final time, she inhaled the pine scent of the tree which had already shed a few needles despite being meticulously watered every day. The thought of it bare of its decorations made her feel hollow.

Arlo returned from outside with a bundle of linen bags which he left on the tiles.

‘It still looks magnificent,’ Katie said. ‘When will you take it down?’

‘Twelfth Night, I suppose, not that most people bother with that now.’

‘I like that tradition. Who doesn’t want to keep their tree up as long as possible? January’s a depressing month.’

‘Although my parents aren’t the most festive of people, they are sticklers for leaving the tree until Twelfth Night and I don’t have guests for a few weeks so there’s no rush …’

He also gave the tree a wistful gaze then turned to her. ‘It will be a bit dreary when it’s not here … and I don’t know if I want to lose the memories of a happy time.’

‘It was a happy time, despite everything.’ Katie heard a peal of laughter from outside the house but felt as low as she had for a long time. She searched his face for the answer to a question that wouldn’t leave her alone. ‘This is the right thing, isn’t it? The sensible thing.’

‘I don’t know what the sensible thing is.’

‘No. Me neither.’

I want to kiss you but I daren’t.

‘OK, then,’ she said instead when he didn’t offer anything else. Perhaps he was eager for her to leave so he could get on with his life.

As she cast a final lingering look at the hall, the tree, the stairs, the high ceilings and back to Arlo, Pongo burst through the open door barking and Katie saw Athene, Wanda and Jess all staring at her.

‘Time to go,’ she said and left Arlo to close the door.

Finally, they were all on the launch.

The boat inched away from the jetty and Katie held her hands together tightly in her lap, dreading the moment when the house vanished from view around the corner of the island as if it had never been there.

Maybe it was a ghost island, and Arlo and Pongo were the ghost man and the ghost dog, and none of this – the angst, the pain, the joy, the hope – had ever happened.

Yet she knew, from the pain squeezing her heart, that it was all too real and that there was more pain to come but they had to endure it and put some time and distance between them to see if they still felt the same.

Pongo licked her hand and let out a pathetic whine.

‘He’s sorry we’re leaving.’ Wanda broke the silence.

Athene patted him. ‘Probably glad to have some peace, aren’t you, dog?’

‘Or both.’ Jess stroked his head and caught Katie’s eye and Katie knew that, like her, Jess was holding back the tears.