‘Hello there, Paul,’ said Bill, slapping him on the back and breaking the tension. ‘I haven’t seen you in ages. Have you come down to save the pub?’ Bill caught Maggie’s beady eye. ‘I mean library but you know if the council get their way and turn that beautiful old building into a bar that could be the death of the Limping Fox.’

‘Err. No. I came to see Tom, my son.’ He nodded in Tom’s direction.

‘Well, I’ll be,’ said Bill. ‘I had no idea he was your boy. He’s a bloody star turn that one. He’s worked like a Trojan doing the silver surfers sessions and getting this petition signed. He’s even got me on Twitter. Now ain’t that something?’

‘Um. Yes.’ Paul didn’t sound too sure.

Someone called Bill’s name and he waved back to them. ‘I need to dash but look, don’t be a stranger. We’ve got a craft ale in that you’d love,’ said Bill.

Tom looked anxious as he waited for his father’s response. ‘You’re all right, thanks, Bill. I’m not drinking at the moment,’ said Paul. He paused to take a breath. ‘Or going forward, actually. I’ve quit the booze.’ He glanced at Tom. ‘For good.’

The relief in Tom was almost palpable. There was a flicker of a smile on Tom’s lips, which Paul mirrored.

‘That’s a bloody shame,’ said Bill. He adjusted his trousers, gave Tom a high five and set to taking the straw bale wall down.

Tom and his father exchanged awkward looks. ‘I need to give them a hand,’ said Tom, laying down his placard on the pavement.

‘Right.’ Paul nodded. He fiddled with the collar on his polo shirt and walked off. Tom watched him go.

‘You okay?’ Maggie asked.

‘Yeah. We’d better get this lot down,’ he said, busying himself with dragging the bales down and hauling them over to the tractor.

Maggie started collecting in the placards. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Paul rush back across the road but she wasn’t quick enough to intercept him. He marched up to Tom who had his back to him and was heaving the bales into the trailer.

‘Tom!’ Paul barked, making Tom spin around, his face wary. Paul made a movement like he was cracking his neck to release tension. His gaze dropped to the ground. ‘I’m sorry.’ He briefly gave Tom an awkward hug and stepped back. Neither seemed to know what to do as straw bales were moved around them. Tom nodded, Paul did the same then turned and strode off. Tom had a tear in his eye as he and Maggie watched his father go. They looked at each other and something passed between them.