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'Not usually, no He's very shy as a rule,' said Clare slowly 'I've never seen hi like that to anyone else' She frowned That sounded like sour grapes Was she jealous? Did she want Ti only to her?

'I told you It's music All musicians are the same'

'Are you? Do you play an instrument?'

'Should I?' Tamara countered, her eyes shiny with dislike, and Clare realised she had made another mistake

'I don't either,' she tried to redee to e to learn to play it Until now, until I realised that I couldn't help Tim with his music problems because I didn't understand them! In every other way he needs me, but not when he has his violin in his hand I suppose I'm afraid of it, in a way, afraid of his talent because it's not so I can share in… ever, except second-hand Sometimes I feel it's like a wall between us…' She suddenly realised who she was talking to and turned her head and gri a neurotic mother, as your father has'

'Dad said that?'

'Well, not those exact words, but that's what he thinks' She glared down at the figure in the pale windbreaker

'You…you really don't like him, do you?' Tamara realised incredulously

Clare's h Tamara had attempted to put her off her father, it had obviously never occurred to her that anyone could not be impressed by him, awed by him as she was 'Should I? Your father waltzes into our lives and calmly assures that he can turn them upside-doithout sois subservient to his talent and will Well, I'oing to convincehi-school Tim worships your father, but he doesn't realise that the kind of attention being lavished on him now is only a means to an end Once Tim's at the school, how often will he see your father?'

'More than I saw him at my school,' said Tamara

'Is that why you left? Because you missed him?'

'I didn't leave, I was asked to leave,' Tamara confirmed Clare's suspicion with a dull defiance 'They said I was too disruptive I ran away three times'

'Where did you go?' Clare was aghast at the idea

'To friends Once I got as far as Ro,' she said with pride

'By yourself!' It was pointless to hide her shock