‘It’s a Martin.’

‘Yes. They make great guitars.’ Jez watched how his son handled the instrument and saw it was with the hands of a lover.

Tom strummed a few chords and listened with his head on one side, then adjusted one string before strumming again and nodding in satisfaction. ‘This is a wonderful guitar, Jez. If this is your spare, what’s your main guitar like?’

‘I’ll get it.’ Jez walked back into his bedroom and came out, holding another guitar for his son’s inspection.

Tom put the Martin down and took the new one from Jez, whistling softly as he saw the make and tried a few chords. ‘A Gibson. Of course.’

‘Yes. It has a particularly sweet tone. It’s my favourite acoustic guitar.’ He took it back. ‘You can keep that one, if you like.’

Tom stiffened. ‘Even I know it must have cost a fortune. I’m not trying to wheedle expensive presents out of you.’

Jez sighed. ‘Your expression was just like your mother’s when you said that. I know you’re not trying to con me, Tom. But I can’t think of anything that’ll make me happier than to give my son a guitar, something I’d have done when you were much younger if I’d been allowed. I totally understand how you must miss having your own guitar and I’m sure you’ll enjoy playing this one, so stop being so bloody stiff-necked.’

Tom’s voice was gruff. ‘Thanks, then. I’m not in your league as a musician, though, so don’t expect too much.’

‘The only league I want you to be in is the one for music lovers. Do you know “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”?’

Tom nodded. ‘They played it a lot at church.’

‘Let’s give it a go, then.’

Jez took care not to watch Tom as they played, because his son was clearly nervous. He sang the tune, but could hear that his son was playing well, better than he’d expected.

Almost immediately Hayley began dancing, showing a good sense of rhythm and clapping in time to the music. Ryan clapped his hands any old how, not managing to make a real clapping sound, and jigged about less expertly beside her.

‘Daddy sing too!’ she insisted when they’d finished the first verse.

‘Go on!’ Jez urged. ‘This isn’t an exam.’

Hesitantly at first, then with more confidence, Tom joined in, and once he’d forgotten to be nervous his voice gathered power. Jez nearly stopped singing in surprise, because it was a good voice and the training in his mother’s church had given Tom the ‘gospel’ touch. His passion for the music poured forth freely as he sang.

Making no comment, Jez led the way into another song, an old one of his own. At the end of the verse, he deliberately played the chords, leaving Tom to improvise, which he did without seeming to realise he’d been guided into it. And he produced a very creditable guitar solo, slightly different from the one that had been recorded. That further gladdened Jez’s heart.