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Okay, so Frankie felt she wasn’t able to make a public declaration of their love, but Jay clearly didn’t share the hesitation. Although her face burnt, Frankie was struggling not to cry with emotion as Jay began playing his guitar to a completely silent room.

It was a beautiful simple melody, slow, yet not quite a ballad, and Frankie knew it off by heart now.

‘Love finds a way, through passing years,

‘Second chances lead to ending all the fears

‘I’ve watched your TikTok six hundred times or more.’

Frankie smiled. It hadn’t been hundreds of viewers watching her, just one.

‘Flames lick up but love burns through to soar…’

She remembered back to the social media posts from Astrid and the one where she said she’d found a song Jay had written about another woman. It must have been this one, she realised. No wonder Astrid had been enraged.

There was a pause in the music as the drums crashed in dramatically. A moment later Cole joined in on the violin. He had a little pedal that he kept pressing and it sounded like there was an entire string orchestra playing alongside. To say it was a majestic track was an understatement.

All too soon the song ended.

There was a brief pause and then the crowd erupted.

Jay waited until it was slightly quieter before saying, ‘Goodnight, everyone! Brian has also asked me to let you know that there will be a fifteen-minute break before the ceilidh band come on.’ He switched off the microphone.

And then the lights went up and everyone stood up to head to the bar.

Frankie shot up out of her seat, ready to congratulate the band and see Jay, but they’d all scooted off the stage the second the lights went up. She looked around but couldn’t see Jay anywhere. Rocco came over to her, a sheepish expression on his face.

‘You were amazing,’ Frankie said.

‘Thanks, sis.’

They hugged.

Alison came over and Rocco snaked an arm around her waist.

‘Get me, I’ve got a boyfriend in a band!’ Alison grinned.

‘For one night only.’ Rocco smiled into her eyes. ‘Fun as that was, I’m glad I’m an architect.’

‘Do you know where Jay went?’ Frankie asked her brother. ‘I need to talk to him.’

‘A good talk or a bad talk?’ Rocco asked warily.

‘Good!’ she said in agitation. They’d wasted so many years, Frankie didn’t want to waste another second.

Rocco grinned. ‘In that case, you should head over to the bandstand. We’ve got a bit of a thing happening, post-gig.’

Valentina popped up beside them. ‘Oh, yeah, I meant to say. We’re heading over.’

‘I wanted to speak to Jay first.’

‘Come on, Frankie, if I can manage over there, not even a week after giving birth with only gas and air, the least you can do is show your face at the bandstand for five minutes. To celebrate your brother’s performance,’ Valentina said firmly.

‘Oh my God, okay!’ Frankie said.

‘Nice emotional blackmail, sis,’ Rocco said to Valentina, before turning back to Frankie. ‘You make a start, we’ll follow in two,’ Rocco suggested, squeezing Alison tightly to him.

‘Coming?’ Frankie asked Valentina.