‘I’m happy to play for her.’ He checked that the guitar was in tune. ‘I can see I’ll have to write some dancing songs for this young lady, once I find out if she really can dance.’

‘I can, G’anddad, I can!’

Ryan trailed across to join them, a little shyer than his sister.

Jez played some ABBA tunes, but didn’t know the other children’s songs Hayley asked for. ‘I’ll have to learn some new tunes, I see.’

‘Daddy can play them.’

He offered the guitar to Tom, who flushed. ‘You don’t need to indulge her to this extent. This is your best guitar.’

‘It’s here to be played, not put in a display case. And I’m enjoying the jam session. Play it for her!’

So Tom played a few tunes and sang, nervously at first, then he forgot his audience and lost himself in the music, while his children jigged about happily nearby.

‘Come and get your teas now, children,’ Jane said after a while. ‘Your granddad’s tired.’

Both children protested but somehow she had them out of the room within minutes and without any tears.

‘She’s brilliant with them,’ Tom said, putting the guitar back carefully on its stand.

‘I’ll just go and finish my work for the day,’ Donna said.

Jez went over to the door with her. ‘Before you go, I want you to do something for me.’ He explained in a low voice about Andi and the need for counselling.

‘I’ll get on to it straight away,’ Donna said.

‘Poor Andi,’ Tom said.

‘Um – there’s some good news too.’

‘Oh?’

‘I’m – er – in love with Sophie Carr, and she with me. Her daughter seemed revolted by that. I hope you don’t mind.’

‘I’m thrilled for you. And don’t let the daughter stop you getting together with Sophie. I hope you’ll both be very happy.’

‘It’s early days and I don’t have a good track record with women, but I do love Sophie.’ He was surprised how deep, and yet how gentle the love was, as well as how powerful.

Maybe this time …

Chapter Fifteen

Gail wandered outside for a breath of fresh air and stopped to frown at the crumpled wing of the car. How had that happened? Had she hit something or had someone hit her in a car park? It happened.

Well, the car was the least of her worries. A crumpled wing wasn’t going to stop her driving, after all.

She glanced towards the next house, empty now. That old bitch had certainly done well out of their break-up. It wasn’t fair. Tom’s mother said Jane was living in London now with him and the children. Gail had always longed to live in London and move away from this dump of a town.

She turned to go back inside, intending to get a glass of wine, just a small one to lift her spirits. She’d have to go and buy some more tomorrow. It was amazing how quickly the bottles got used up.