Chris is offered more lamb, which he declines. Ceinwen’s interpretation of his refusal is explained to the gathering… that he’s saving room for her tarten ’fale. On some previous visit Chris had raved about Ceinwen’s apple tart, which had thrilled her no end and scored him lots of points, and he’d eaten three huge slices at a single sitting. On every subsequent visit Chris had been served Ceinwen’s tarten ’fale for dessert. As she rises from the table she turns to Naomi requesting her help in the kitchen.

As though Seth were invisible, Mostyn says to Chris, almost by way of apology, ‘Ceinwen really can’t cope at all with Seth being one of the sons of Sodom.’

Chris, moving closer to Seth and putting his arm around his shoulder, shakes his head and replies, ‘To deny Jude’s existence is sad. As Seth’s brother-in-law I’ll respect his integrity. I won’t become part of your denial, Mostyn!’

Mostyn’s face softens and, nodding his head slowly, he answers, ‘Perhaps that’s how it should be in these modern times. Ceinwen and I haven’t experienced city life; in our milltir sgwâr…’ Breaking off, he searches for the English idiom and then, with a prompt from Seth continues, ‘In our square mile of life such a thing is sinful and unnatural, bringing diseases and disgrace.’ Silence falls over the table again.

Seth feels like hugging them both for their honesty but is prevented by uncertainty from even speaking. His father’s pain is so real, and as much as he wants to acknowledge it, Seth doesn’t want him to think that he accepts even a hair’s breadth of his position. Chris, in a gesture that further emphasises his support for Seth, draws him closer until their heads touch and, almost in a private whisper, asks, ‘When are you and Jude coming to visit us in Bristol?’

For a moment, before Seth mouths the words accepting Chris’ invitation, he sees the agony tearing through his father’s face and he knows that he’ll never come home again.

As Seth and Chris begin to talk about the things they might all do in Bristol, Mostyn excuses himself, explaining that he needs to check that everything is ready for later that evening when, alone in the bakery, he’ll bake bread for the village through the night. ‘But I’ll need help with the apple tart,’ Chris jokingly protests.

Mostyn forces a laugh and leaves them.

‘I really appreciate you standing with me, Chris,’ Seth thanks him.

After eating too much apple tart, Seth and Chris offer to wash up the dinner dishes, so the two women disappear to make themselves ready for the get-together at the pub. Mostyn turns up in the kitchen, dressed and ready to go, just in time to put the dried dishes away.