The recollection of Jude speaking his pain that morning reopens the wound of Seth’s parents’ denial and rejection. It smarts deeply, triggering a yearning to hold Jude, and be held by him. He pulls over into a lay-by at the side of the lake, and at the water’s edge wills the beauty of the afternoon to calm the emotional cross-currents coursing through him: love for Jude pulling against the loyalty he believes is owed to sister and parents. For seven years and three months he’s shared a love with Jude that neither of them had ever believed might be possible. Since they’ve known about them as a couple, Seth’s parents have denied the reality of his happiness with Jude. Ceinwen, from the beginning, has only ever referred to him as that Jewish man. As the storm rages, Seth wishes that his parents could take a leaf from Jude’s mother and father.

The Canters hadn’t actually welcomed Seth with open arms either; they too had found it hard to accept that their son loved another man. But, with time, they’d softened: Nina Canter had even bought Seth a boxed set of Edith Piaf CDs one birthday after hearing that Piaf’s passion moved him to tears.

Back in the car, fingering the steering wheel in hesitation, Seth pictures the uproar that the phone call he wants to make will create: Dwi’n aros yn Lerpwl efo Jude…. He imagines how Ceinwen, on hearing his refusal, will be even more hostile towards Jude. She’ll go on about how he can’t show greater loyalty to that Jew than to his own family: ‘You have to come to the wedding… you can’t stay in Liverpool – not this weekend.’

And he pictures Jude, more dear to him than anyone in the world, and remembers how reasonable he’s been through the whole messy affair.