In 1958 a boy "fell in love" with his primary school teacher in an overseas service school, it was an innocence reflected in the era. The novel traces their parallel lives for this period turned out to be their happiest years. It appeared Jennifer Samuel was destined to be unlucky in love while her sporting pupil succumbed to a gambling addiction and ended up in prison, while a resident of Birmingham. With a brutal marriage behind her Miss Samuel gained admiration and respect during her teaching career but always hankered after those carefree days in Malta; the spirit and esprit de corps was never quite replicated again during her working life and she only heard of her former pupil after he was sentenced to a maximum security prison following an audacious raid on a private bank, in the capital. He escapes and having already bought a residence in Gozo, using a false identity in previous years, decides to live his life there. Eventually both meet during a reunion on the island but the story which is a paean to loyalty and friendship, takes an unexpected turn...