‘We did already. We ate soufflé and crêpes.’

‘And crêpes? Wow. You going to see him again?’

‘Once is enough.’ Once in one lifetime.

Carrie’s face puckered into disappointment. ‘Why the heck?’ she demanded, seriously displeased. ‘You know I can take Nicky whenever you want. You need a love life.’

‘I’ve had one.’

‘But you’ve kept his jacket,’ Carrie said, thoughtful. ‘Smart girl. A guy’s going to miss a jacket like that. Does he know where you live?’

‘No. I’ll post it to him.’

‘Don’t post it for a couple of days,’ Carrie said. ‘Give the man a challenge.’ She pushed her more than ample self to her feet, made her way across the room and gave Athena a hug. ‘You deserve some excitement. And Nicky needs a dad.’

‘Carrie…’

‘Just saying,’ Carrie said placidly. ‘Just going.’

And she went. Leaving silence.

She sat, on cushions still warm from Carrie. She stared mindlessly at the soap Carrie had been watching. Oscar sighed, heaved himself sideways and redraped himself over her feet.

She needed comfort.

She needed to stop being angry.

Why the anger? After ten years, surely she had no right to still be angry with Nikos.

Or maybe she had. Ten years ago she’d ached for him to follow her. Just one word…something…a message to find out if she was okay. Her aunt had known her address. Nikos had known her aunt.

But it was as if the moment she’d walked off the island she’d walked out of Nikos’s life. And now…here he was, demanding she take a part in the island’s future. Demanding she think about Argyros.

And all she could think was that she hadn’t told him he had a son.

He was here. The time to tell him was now.

The time to tell him was ten years ago. For him to find out now…

It had to happen. She had to find the courage.

Maybe he’d leave without trying to see her again. Maybe she’d have to go to Argyros to tell him.