The beach was crowded at the northern end but as they walked further along it became less so. Stripy windbreaks and colourful parasols flapped in the breeze, while kids splashed about in the shallow breakers of a mid-tide.

‘I’d forgotten how beautiful it is here,’ Maggie said, hitching up her long skirt as a wave broke around her ankles. Patrick’s grin as he tried to keep up with everyone was reminiscent of him as a much younger man, Claire thought as she slowed down to wait. She was relieved he’d come back to the farm safely a couple of hours after driving off, grumbling about having forgotten what he’d gone to the village shop to buy. No one had the heart to tell him he’d not set off for the shop in the first place.

She felt sad that he and Jason hadn’t acknowledged each other yet – not even a nod – but she knew that having the pair of them on the same beach was a breakthrough. While Patrick’s lack of greeting was perhaps due to his mind letting him down, especially with so many faces around, Claire hadn’t failed to notice the way he’d glimpsed Jason a couple of times, as if he’d wanted to speak. She wished she could say the same for Jason, who had walked off ahead at a much faster pace.

‘Take your shoes off, Granddad!’ Amy called out, dancing around with a wig-like spray of wet seaweed in her hand.

‘Why would I want to get my toes all covered in sand?’ he replied in a silly voice, wiggling his feet. ‘I don’t want Grandma telling me off for catching a chill.’ He ruffled Amy’s hair as she skipped past.

Claire caught up with Jason, hoping she might be able to slow him down, get the two men to fall into step. ‘Didn’t Rain fancy a walk?’ she heard him ask Maggie, who was walking alongside. He threw a piece of driftwood and Russ lolloped along the sand to retrieve it. Amy chased after the dog, dragging the seaweed behind her. ‘Or Callum or Mum for that matter?’ he said, turning to Claire.

‘Mum had some errands to run. You’ll have to throw that stick a hundred times now, you realise,’ Claire said with a laugh, avoiding answering about Callum. She stared up at the expanse of blue sky, trying to put the earlier house viewing behind her. She’d cleaned up her cut and patched it with a plaster, hoping it didn’t look too unsightly. Finally unwinding, she planned on changing into her new dress before Nick arrived later.

‘Anyway, I think Rain’s more interested in getting to know that son of yours,’ Maggie said, linking arms with Claire.

Claire checked behind to see if Patrick was any closer to them. He wasn’t. He was stooping down to pick up a razor clam shell, showing it to Amy. ‘Don’t worry, Callum’s back at the house. I doubt they’ll get up to anything they shouldn’t.’

‘Apologies in advance if my daughter corrupts your son,’ Maggie said with a laugh. ‘Rain’s a good girl really.’

Claire squeezed Maggie’s arm. ‘Marcus is pretty inexperienced when it comes to girls. Having her around might do him some good.’

Jason waited for Greta, who was also struggling to keep up, but when he saw she was talking to his father, he veered off, picking out more driftwood from the tideline to throw for Russ. Claire knew he’d only agreed to come to Cornwall for her and their mother’s sake.

‘Does Rain see her dad often?’ Claire asked.

‘Rarely. He has his own family. They don’t know about her.’

‘That’s tough for Rain.’

Maggie hesitated, kicking at the sand. ‘The more I try to give her a stable life, the more I mess up. She needs a father figure but all I’ve managed is a string of disastrous relationships.’ Maggie let out a sigh. ‘Her biological father pays her school fees and she keeps pretty much everything she owns there. School’s her real home.’ She gripped Claire’s arm tighter. ‘I feel such a failure.’

‘Oh, Maggie, I’m sure you’re a great mum. Rain’s a lovely girl.’

‘She knows I was Peter’s bit on the side,’ Maggie whispered, pulling closer. ‘It’s all hush-hush because of who he is. It’s hard for a teenager to accept half of her existence has to be kept quiet.’

‘Oh, Maggie…’

‘It’s ironic. Pete was the only man I’ve ever truly loved. He was also the only man who wasn’t prepared to leave his wife for me.’

Claire knew Maggie had always been unlucky with men and wondered if it was because she’d lacked a stable father figure herself. Growing up, the village lads had taken advantage of her vulnerability, earning Maggie a bit of reputation when all she wanted was love. ‘That sounds hard. But at least you and Rain have each other.’

‘It’s harder now she’s older,’ Maggie replied. ‘I always believed that having Rain would somehow make Peter want me, but it actually pushed him away. Initially, he didn’t believe she was his daughter, so we did a paternity test. He’s scared I’ll tell his wife.’ She hesitated, taking a deep breath of sea air. ‘He’s a well-known politician, Claire, and has four kids of his own, one of them younger than Rain. It didn’t end well between us.’

‘In what way?’

‘While I’d never truly wanted to break up their happy family, I did want to get what Rain deserved. I had to secure a good future for her and it turned out Peter didn’t… well, let’s just say I had to persuade him.’

‘Persuade?’

‘I’m not blackmailing him, if that’s what you think. It was more a case of strongly suggesting he pay for Rain’s education. Office temping doesn’t quite cover the fees.’

A large wave came rolling up the beach, making them sidestep quickly as Claire mulled over what Maggie had just told her. She glanced back. Patrick and Greta were walking arm in arm. ‘Dad, your trousers are soaked!’ She slowed again so they could catch up.

Patrick waved and grinned. As he approached, he squinted along the beach, shielding his eyes from the sun, watching Jason and Russ way up ahead. She wished she knew what she could do or say to make things better between them.