Soon after she’d left, there was a knock on the door. He wanted to rush across the room and down the short corridor to fling open the door, but hung back, trying to get his emotions under control. He wasn’t sure how to face this.

The person knocked again and he went to answer it, his stomach lurching.

The young man standing there was so like himself at that age, he knew at once this was no impostor. ‘Come in.’ He smiled at the concierge. ‘Thank you.’

Tom followed him into the living area of the big suite without a word. He hardly glanced at the luxurious room but kept staring at Jez as if he’d devour him.

‘It’s wonderful to meet you at last, Tom.’

‘Don’t you want to see some ID?’

‘Your face is enough ID for me. I used to see a face like that every day in the mirror when I was your age. Haven’t people commented on the likeness?’

‘Sometimes. I just make a joke of it.’

‘Come and sit down.’

They took two big, comfortable armchairs stationed at right angles, the smooth cream leather and braided satin cushions contrasting with Jez’s dark clothes and Tom’s scruffy jeans and worn leather jacket. For a moment neither of them spoke, then Tom cleared his throat and said with a marked northern accent, ‘I didn’t know.’

‘What?’

‘That you’d wanted to see me when I was a kid, that you’d sent me letters. Mum never told me. She did it out of the best intentions but—’

The bitter words escaped before Jez could stop himself. ‘Mary always does things out of the best intentions. That’s what makes her so hard to deal with.’

Tom scowled at him. ‘I love her very much.’

‘I did too, once. It wasn’t enough, though. Even when she was pregnant, she wouldn’t marry me unless I joined her and gave up my music – as if I could. Sorry. That’s ancient history now. Tell me why you came.’

Tom took a deep breath. ‘I’ve been wanting to meet you for years. It’s important to know your father, don’t you think? But also, at the moment I need your help – desperately. I know that sounds grasping and I’ll pay you back every penny, I swear, but I didn’t know where to turn and when I found out you’d wanted to see me, I – just came.’

Jez tried to sift the sense from this jumble of words. ‘You’re in financial trouble?’

Tom shrugged. ‘Going to be soon. But I’d have wanted to see you anyway. I needed to.’ His voice choked to a halt and he swallowed hard, staring down at his legs.

‘I’ve been needing to meet you for a long time, too, Tom.’

‘You have?’

‘Yes.’ Jez couldn’t stop looking at him, wanted to see and know everything about his son, didn’t know where to start. ‘Let’s – um, make ourselves comfortable. Are you hungry, thirsty? I don’t drink alcohol, but there’s coffee, tea, soft drinks of all kinds.’