Despite Sam’s worrying, we arrived at the pub in plenty of time to get decent seats. Tom started to tell me about a Jack Russell Terrier he’d befriended on his post round the previous week when I heard someone say, “Room for another?”
I turned in my seat and was surprised to see Steve behind me. Getting to my feet, I shook his hand. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here…not that you aren’t welcome.”
“Paul and Helen decided not to go out so they didn’t need me to baby-sit. And Paul told me Mark was due to sing here tonight. So I thought I’d come listen.”
“Hope you enjoy it.”
Tom stood, greeted Steve, and went to get him a chair. But before he sat down, Steve asked if any of us wanted another drink. We didn’t, since it hadn’t been long since we’d arrived.
The pub soon began to fill. Tom sa
