“The horror of coming ashore for good. God. A punch in the gut, and an irritation that has her glaring back at his lighthouse for an explanation. Were she and her mother really so awful? Mum was a bit of a nag, but did everything she could for him when he was home. And as for her… well, by that age, she was sitting around daydreaming or curled up with a book most of the time – not exactly a nightmare. Maybe he was just dreading leaving a life he’d known for so many years.”
Extract from The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter – included in the showcase