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“Don’t worry James, I didn’t take any offence.

Glynis is a keen knitter and one of our best local customers, she’s told us a lot about you.

” There it was again, that big smile. The man seemed to be permanently happy.

He had a bit of weight to him and grey in his ginger hair.

“I’m just closing up. We never stay open after 4pm, but if there’s anything you want let me know and we’ll get it bagged up. ”

I thanked him and he went toward the back of the shop where there was a little till set up. I eyed the skeins of wool but shook myself.

“Want anything?” Nain asked. I looked up, beyond the wool, to where Llywelyn was putting his ladders back in the van. I looked back down at the wool, at the collection of needles and crochet hooks on the wall.

“No, I’m all good thanks. It’s been a long while since I’ve done anything like this.”

“Do you have any hobbies outside of work?” Nain asked. I didn’t answer. After a few seconds of silence she turned to Gwyn. “Nothing for us today, but I’ll be back in soon. I’m almost out of supplies.”

We exited the shop and Llywelyn turned to us just as he was getting into his van. “Much more on today, Llyw?” Nain asked.

“Nothing today, just going to head home and let the dog out.” Llywelyn leaned against the van. “Anything for you tonight?”

“Oh, I’ve got all the soaps tonight. English and Welsh language. We’re going to have hours of fun.”

I groaned, and Llywelyn gave me a significant look. “Send a flare if you need assistance.”

I smiled back. Nain tugged on my arm “Come on, James. We’re going to miss Pobl y Cwm !”

◆◆◆

“And get out of my pub!” the woman on the television shouted at yet another unfortunate punter, and I stifled a yawn.

I looked up at the clock. We had eaten food, and were on our third episode of some soap.

They had all blended into one at this point and I no longer had any idea which character was which.

I tried to stifle another yawn, but failed. Nain paused the TV and gave me a long stare. “If you make another noise like that I’ll be kicking you out on you arse. Soap time is sacred time.”

“I’m…going to head out for a walk,” I said. I grabbed the knitted jumper from the carrier bag where it still sat by the lounge door. “I’ll see you soon.”

I didn’t know where I was planning on going when I left the house, but my eyes immediately were drawn to the moon reflecting off the sea below.

I walked down toward the beach - or at least where the beach had been.

The tide had come in, and the couple of boats in the harbour bobbed up and down on the waves.

It seemed the whole village fell silent at night.

I was the only person around, and most of the houses leading down to the beach had their curtains drawn.

It was only 8pm at the latest, but the sun had set.

I sat on the sea wall and dangled my feet over the water below. The caves I had seen on the beach earlier were now halfway full with water. I could see why my parents never wanted me to play in them.

“Thinking hard?” asked a familiar voice from behind me, and I jumped. I looked back to see Llywelyn stood bundled up in a big coat. He had on lead a little grey dog that I couldn’t identify. “This is Dinky, and she’s a mutt,” he said as if sensing my thoughts.

“Dinky?” I tried not to make my laugh too obvious.

“I rescued her from an older lady who couldn’t look after her any more.

It seemed cruel to change the name…can she come and say hello?

” He looked down at Dinky, who was straining against her harness toward me.

I nodded, and Llywelyn walked toward me.

As soon as she could Dinky jumped up on to me and started to lick my face. I giggled and played with her ears.

“You’re a gorgeous little thing, aren’t you? Who gave you that silly name, huh? You should be called Boudica, or Caligula. Something that suits such a fierce little girl.” She lapped at my face again. I pushed her face away gently and she curled up on my lap. “She likes me…”

“Good judges of character, dogs,” Llywelyn said. I couldn’t tell if the statement was meant as a compliment or if he was just being matter-of-fact, as seemed to be normal around here. “Can I sit by here for a minute?”

I shifted to the side to let him sit down.

Now, without anyone else around and without the awkwardness of the first time in the van, I could study his face properly as he looked out to sea.

He was gorgeous. His beard was a little scruffy, sure, but it added a roughness to his face that was just nice.

His eyes twinkled blue and his skin practically glowed under the moonlight.

He turned to look directly at me, but I didn’t tear my eyes away.

“I saw you in the shop earlier. You looked like a kid in a sweet shop,” he said. I looked away in embarrassment so he continued. “No, it’s a good thing. Just didn’t have you down as the crafty type.”

“I’m not any more,” I said. “Nain taught me the basics when I was younger and used to buy me something new like that every Christmas - yarn, or a kids’ sewing machine.

Then on my birthday she would buy me top ups and little supplies.

It kept me creative. Then once I got to university it all sort of faded into the background.

I haven’t started a scarf in about ten years.

Could use one now, though.” I pulled at my jumper, shivering.

“Do you want my coat?” Llywelyn asked, already taking it off.

“No, don’t be stupid. You’ll be cold then.”

“It’s big, we can share if you scoot close enough.” Llywelyn said it without thought as if it was the most normal thing in the world. He inched closer in when I didn’t and swung one half of the coat over my shoulder, leaning even further in for warmth.

His one hand rested almost on mine on the harbour wall. Dinky cuddled between us for the warmth, and everything seemed to slow down. Was he interested, in some way? Surely not. I’d grown up in London, a hub for the gay community. Small towns like this didn’t have gay people. Except…

“So, Gwyn and his husband run the craft shop? And people around here are fine with that?” I asked, trying to keep my tone as casual as possible.

“Oh yeah, this place is very welcoming.” Llywelyn looked down at his hands.

“There’s actually a bit of a joke about there being something in the water.

The village has been pretty progressive since Mr Prentis and his partner started seeing each other back in the 60s.

See, there are quite a few gay men in the village.

The headmaster of the school is, some people say the local baker is screwing the local mechanic, my best friend Tudor is gay… and so am I.”

The words I’d been waiting to hear. And I didn’t know why, because I certainly wasn’t going to do anything about it. “Me too,” I said as casually as I could.

“I know. Your Nain and her best friend have already probably told half the village that much,” he said. “Think they were hoping to set you up with a good Hiraeth man.”

“Fat chance,” I chuckled. “I’m a city boy.”

“You fit in pretty nicely in the country too,” Llywelyn said quietly. I pretended I hadn’t heard anything. No point fantasising about having lovely country babies with lovely country men. That wasn’t my dream, anyway.

“Right,” Llywelyn said once the silence had stretched into something awkward. “Let’s go Dinky. Don’t want to be out too late. Do you want me to walk you home, James?”

“Nah, I’m all good for a bit. Just want to look out to sea.” I shivered as Llywelyn stood up. He noticed and draped the coat back over my shoulders.

“You need it more than me,” he said as he brushed off his jeans. Dinky jumped off my lap and stood by him.

“When will I give it back?” I asked.

“It’s a little village, you’ll run into me.”

“Well…thanks for the chat tonight,” I said. “It’s nice getting to know people here. Even if I won’t be around for long.”

“Any time.” Llywelyn smiled, then tugged at Dinky’s lead as he turned to walk away. I looked back out to sea and at the moon’s bright reflection on rippling waves. The boats bobbed in the wind. It was a beautiful night.