‘It’s really cute, Jez, such a catchy tune. Hayley and Ryan will love it. I can just see them dancing to it, hopping like birds.’

‘I love playing for them, making them happy.’

‘You look happy yourself today.’

He nodded. ‘I am. I can’t tell you why yet, but I will soon.’

‘Sophie?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good. About time you found yourself a good woman. I really like her. She’s so sane and reasonable, yet she still does her own thing.’

‘Good morning.’

She turned round. ‘Oh, hello, Tom. Come and listen to what your father’s written. I must get on with my work.’

Jez passed Tom the guitar, sang the new tune and within minutes the two of them were laughing together. Soon, they were discussing the second verse, three little squirrels this time. Tom suggested an improvement and they worked happily together.

His son didn’t realise how good he was musically, Jez thought. Tom might be inexperienced but he had a feel for music that was inborn. You either had it or you didn’t.

Jez intended to see that Tom got a chance to use his musical skills – and not just as a sound engineer. But he’d let things develop naturally.

In the middle of the morning, Jane took the children out for a walk round the garden. Usually they’d walk down the street to the local park, which had a playground with swings. They loved to play outdoors, something their mother hadn’t let them do very often.

She found an old bench and sat down, encouraging them to hop and skip along the paths nearby, which had been laid out around a group of overgrown flowerbeds and bushes that had gone feral.

She turned her face up to the sun for a minute or two, enjoying its warmth.

Jez rang Sophie when he’d finished working on the song and she invited him over for a late lunch.

‘I can’t seem to settle to work today. I’m too excited,’ she confessed. ‘Andi’s gone out to see the counsellor again.’

‘I’m hoping to persuade you to come out and choose an engagement ring with me this afternoon. Will you?’

‘We’ll see. There’s no hurry.’

‘I want to hurry.’

‘I’m beginning to feel as if I’ve got on an express train and it’s running away with me.’

‘I wouldn’t mind running away with you. I’ll come over straight away.’

He turned to ring through to security and ask for an escort, then shook his head. What harm could possibly come to him in his own garden? He wasn’t even stepping out on to the street.

He strolled through the grounds, stopping to chat to Jane for a minute or two and promising to play for the children later in the afternoon, then went through the gate that led to Sophie’s, closing it carefully behind him.

Gail was watching from her hiding place and saw Jez Winter come through the gate. He was so like Tom, older of course, but with the same narrow features and laughing eyes.