Our only chance of sailing a boat out of the little marina is to do it in full view. “Hidden in plain sight,” as Mam used to say. Even then we are going to need a massive distraction.

That is why Roxy asked about the temperature of the water.

First, though, we have to call out the Coast Guard.

We have moved away from the bench to a quiet part of the harbor where there are no passersby, but we can still see both the Coast Guard station and the yacht I am about to steal.

The three of us face each other. I cannot speak for them, but my heart is thumping like a blacksmith’s hammer, and my throat is so dry I feel like I could drink the whole harbor.

In the entirety of my long life, I do not think I have ever felt more thankful for friends like these, but it is not something I can easily say. I look at Aidan and he has turned very pale.

“Is something wrong, Aidan?” I ask him, but he shakes his head.

“No,” he says. “Let’s do this.”

“Are you sure?”

He smiles. “What are friends for, Alfie?”

And so begins the rest of my life.