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Propped up on his elbow, looking all first-thing-in-the-morning ruggedly handsome, Alex said, ‘There’s never been anyone else. This candle I hold for you – it’s been burning my hand for so long. I can’t believe you’re here. It’s surreal.’

I glanced at Alex’s twisted, scarred arm and said, ‘Don’t burn anymore candles.’

He laughed.

I said, ‘Alex. Have you really loved me a long time?’

Alex looked at his arm and said, ‘Do you know how this happened?’

I shook my head.

He said, ‘On the night of the fire, half the house was alight before anyone woke up. The stone walls didn’t burn, but the wooden extension where Zach and I slept was a tinder box.

‘My father literally walked through a wall of flames to get Zach and I out. I remember he had a wet towel on his head and looked like a ghost. He was even decent enough to wake my mother up, although she was rather irritated at being disturbed.

‘When he pulled us out of the building, we all sat on the lawn, watching the east wing burn. But I realised I’d left something inside – a four-leaf clover, pressed inside a bible on my bedside table. I couldn’t be without that four-leaf clover. So I went back into the house.

‘A burning door fell on my arm, and after that I don’t remember – firemen pulled me free.

‘I’m not perfect. There’s no such thing as perfect. But maybe, just maybe, you and I could be perfect for each other.’

I smiled and said, ‘Could be?’

Alex said, ‘I’m not letting you go now. We’ll make it work. You take care of Daisy and I’ll take care of the rest.’