“Goodness, I can’t remember the last time we had so many people here at once. Listen to me, I’m beginning to sound like Tim,” I said, coming in from the kitchen with a couple of stools so everyone could sit down.
Tom laughed, but Sam and Billy didn’t get the joke.
“Tim plays the piano at the King George. We went to visit him at his house once so I could practise a few songs,” Mark explained.
“And when Cliff and me turned up as well, the poor man flapped around wondering where he’d put everyone,” Tom finished.
“Does Tim have a partner?” Billy asked.
“No, Dougie died a few years ago.”
“What happened to him?” Billy asked.
Cliff looked over at us. I nodded. There wasn’t any reason why the boys shouldn’t know.
“Doug died of an AIDS-related condition. He was ill for quite a while, but
