‘A bit,’ William says, used to Robert’s ability to tune in to his feelings, and already trying to resist the memories of the first time he left home.

‘Remember, you can come home at the weekends at the drop of a hat. No blummin’ exeats needed.’

‘I know, but I’ll try and get on with life in London. Christmas will be here before we know it.’

‘You know your bed’s always here for you.’ Robert puts his hand on William’s arm.

‘I’ll work hard and I’ll make you proud.’

‘I’m already proud.’ Robert looks at Howard, who stands, tranquil as ever, a gentle smile on his face. ‘We’re already proud.’

The train pulls in and William hugs Robert, and though he’s never done it before, he kisses him on the cheek. Then he hugs Howard again, who squeezes back tightly. He picks up his suitcase and briefcase and climbs aboard.

‘Don’t wait to wave, I’ll get sad,’ he says, suddenly wanting to be on his own.

‘Good idea,’ Howard says, ‘or we’ll all be bawling our eyes out.’ He chuckles, and softly turns Robert round. The diamond ring on his little finger winks at the sun before he folds his hands behind his back and the two men walk away from the train. William sees them turn slightly towards each other – Howard is saying something – and then, in perfect unison, without turning, they each lift both their hands and wave.

As he sits next to the window on the tired upholstery, with a spring nudging him in the backside, William is unexpectedly overwhelmed with a sense of his mother. Not the mother who moved to Swansea without him and now manages the biggest music shop in Wales, but the mother who took him to Cambridge, who knelt on the gravel in her stockings to tell him how proud she was, trying so hard not to cry. He stares out of the window, not bothering to wipe his face until he feels drips on his hand.

The harvested fields snap across his vision like rolling sand dunes. Alone in the carriage, he glances at his watch just as the train plunges through a tunnel and he has to wait for the flash of returning daylight to see the time. Still well over an hour before he arrives in London, with the challenge of the Underground.