I sat on a blanket in shade cast by a flame tree with branches arching over the sand, watching Sam’s head bobbing above the water as he swam out, strongly. The detritus of our luncheon lay spread around me, and I finally stirred myself to pack it away into the basket. Two wine bottles lay empty. Sam had consumed most of it, which probably explained his lack of inhibition, stripping-off and plunging into the sea. I envied him the chance to cool down. I watched him turn and begin to swim back towards the shore. God, I longed for Raphael to return and how I prayed he might have Penny with him when he did.
When Sam waved and called out to me, I struggled to my feet for I could not hear his words. Standing at the waterline with wavelets ruffling over my bare feet, I waved back. ‘Are you all ri
