It had been a perfect summer's week weather wise; Makepeace was driving back with the car soft top down again. The road ran along the coast and Dempsey was watching both Harry and the scenery. He wondered how come she looked so beautiful after an uncomfortable night on a stake out. Suddenly Dempsey shouted out "Whoa"

Makepeace braked hard and looked for an explanation

"I saw a beach"

"It's the coastline Dempsey"

'She's bloody good at the art of understatement' thought Dempsey "Park up a minute"

"Where?"

"Here"

"It's a main road"

"Well turn round and go back a few yards."

"We're supposed to be meeting Inspector O'Malley"

"At 5.00; we've got a bit of time spare. And anyway this is laid back Ireland, who cares."

"I do, this is my job."

"We won't be long."

Makepeace rolled her eyes and gave in, she reversed to the lay by and as Dempsey jumped out she followed him down onto the beach.

She looked at the sea lapping the shoreline, the sea was shallow and the small waves gently rippled as the sun sparkled on the water. To Harry it looked like a picture of heaven and not too dissimilar to the beaches she had described the other night when relating memories of family holidays to Dempsey. For a brief second she could see her mother run across the sand towards her and she could hear her mother laugh and say one of her favourite sayings "Live for the moment Harriet – live for this moment – you'll never have the chance again" Harry smiled and turned to see what James was up to.

Dempsey grinning mischievously had stopped by a rock and taken off his shoes and socks, he was now rolling up his trousers

"What on earth are you doing?"

"You'll see. You take your shoes off too."

"Why?" She asked as she was removing them.

"Let's walk Mrs Dempsey" he took her hand. Palm to palm his larger hand encompassed hers, just as he wished he could her whole being and they walked towards the water, feeling the sand between their toes.

"Can't you feel the sun warming your heart and the child within breaking free and finding its way out into the open?"

Harry looked at him amazed "that's a bit poetic for you Dempsey"

He was inclined to agree but wisely decided not to risk being distracted by it "You're not alone Harry" he laced his fingers with hers "I just wanted to make those memories live and work for you Harry"

An unknown weight lifted off her shoulders and from somewhere deep within a smile surfaced

Once they reached the waters edge Dempsey led the way along the beach, allowing the water to lap over their ankles.

"It's funny" she paused unsure about revealing her inner imagination but the feel of his fingers intertwined with hers combined with her dream and the words of her mother all encouraged her on "I imagined I saw my mother just now"

"What was she doing?"

"Running, laughing…"

Dempsey pulled Makepeace by the hand and started to run. The sea splashed up as they ran through the waves; it caught Dempsey's trousers and one leg started to fall down and get damp. Harry looked down and laughed at Dempsey as he tried to rescue it. Dempsey's eyes caught a glimpse of Makepeace standing next to him in the sea – they followed her legs up from her ankles to her skirt hemline - 'boy she had divine legs' he thought.

Their fingers reached out until they found each other again. They held hands in a light lock and as the sun shone down on them they started to walk again.

"So" ventured Dempsey

"So what?"

"So are you relieved, like last time?"

"Last time?" Harry had no idea where Dempsey had taken their conversation

"The night you put on Annabel's sexy red dress, God I loved that dress, the back bit especially"

"The back was non existent"

"That's the bit I loved" he grinned at the memory, it was an image and sensual touch he had relived so many times. Harry had no reply so he prompted her "Our night of passion?"

Harry still really didn't know exactly what she felt – it depended on so much. She so wanted there to be something between them – something that counted, that mattered as much to Dempsey as herself "I'm not sure"

"What do you mean you're not sure?" His heart was tied in knots and he didn't know how to unravel it – he saw it as her keeping on backing off.

"Just that. What about you? Are you relieved?"

"Yes" Dempsey at least knew that much

"Oh!" Harry failed to hide her disappointment

Dempsey continued "I really enjoyed the day together"

"Me too." Harry smiled "I love Aunt May" she reflected then looked in his eye "But you're relieved we didn't?" she asked aware, but unsure why, she carried such a mixed response.

"No"

"You said you were"

"I didn't"

"I distinctly heard you say yes"

"Relieved that I didn't miss something - I ain't never not remembered" Dempsey grinned sheepishly. "Harry, thanks for coming with me on my family tree research, it was good to have you there."

"You know, I enjoyed being there, I enjoyed the Dempsey I saw there." Harry smiled

"I have got one big regret though" Dempsey raised his eyebrows as he spoke

"What?" Harry asked realising as she spoke that she had left herself vulnerable.

"Well apparently not only can I barely remember the Céilidh bit but apparently I had a hot chick, undoing my shirt and I have no recall at all. Fry, it seems, knows more than either of us!"

Harry looked away embarrassed and turned back towards their start point