He recognises the look on Laurence's face: that fear of being all at sea. He's seen it on his friend's face a handful of times, both before they came to the island and since. He reaches out, offering his hand for Laurence's free hand but not taking it, not yet. He's already aware that he's touched him more this morning than he has in front of Julie before.

But times do seem to be changing.

"It is simply not done yet," he points out. "But we are the kind of people who do impossible things, William Laurence. The three of us are. How many aviators do you know with children by men or women they've never married? We find a way to happiness, Will. Can you truly say it wouldn't make you happy?"