Paula Hillman, author

Here’s a sneaky peek at the moment when Gabriel Da Silva, the busker of Halfmoon Lane, turns up at Nina’s house unannounced…

I stare at Gabriel, my mouth half open, brain trying to catch hold of the right words.

‘You haven’t told me your name,’ he says, voice low.

‘Nina.’ My throat tightens. ‘I’m Nina.’

Two scenarios are playing out behind my eyes: I’m about to be tortured and killed in the most brutal way for reasons I could never explain, or this is the living embodiment of a fantasy I’ve had for months without giving any words to it. Either way, I should close the door the door on him. Gabriel smiles, and I know I won’t.

‘I found the lighthouse,’ he says. ‘I did not believe your story at first. I asked a few people if there was such a place. They told me about a house on this island with tower attached.’ He gestures towards it. ‘Now I understand.’

I pull back the door. ‘Would you like some coffee? You look frozen.’
Over his clothes, he is wearing a dark suede jacket with fringing along the arms and across the chest. His face is alight with cold.

‘Only if you want me to.’ He swings his guitar case away from his shoulder and lets it rest on the floor. ‘I have suddenly realised how scary it must be, having me turn up on your doorstep. Finding out I have been researching your home.’ He drops his gaze. ‘I am sorry, Nina. I wanted to see you. Forgive me.’

‘Nothing to forgive,’ I say breezily. ‘Come on in.’

He drags with him the smell of the tide. I am transported to my earlier swim. When I tell him about it, his eyes are alive with interest. He talks about his fear of water and wonders how I can bear to swim in darkness, never mind in the polluted waters of the United Kingdom. We dart between many subjects and don’t settle on the most pressing one: the reason for his presence.