‘You humiliated me!’

‘William,’ his dad said, ‘give your mother and me a moment, please.’

William ran to the kitchen, grabbed a biscuit from the jar shaped like a cat, then sat with his back to the closed door to listen.

‘It was just a bit of fun.’

‘I hate it when the three of you join forces against me. Hate it!’

‘We weren’t joining forces.’ His voice was low and quiet; he was amused, not cross, William could tell from his cuddling voice.

‘Howard can tell.’ She wasn’t using her cuddling voice. ‘How do you think that makes me feel? Everyone laughing at me because I can’t tell my own husband apart from his homosexual brother!’

William stopped chobbling in case they heard him in the deep silence that followed. He didn’t know what that word meant, but he could feel the shock of her having said it from the quiet. He couldn’t imagine his father’s face. William licked a crumb from his bottom lip and felt it on his tongue. All he could hear was the soft whistling of breath through his nose.

‘And you expect me to sit back and watch the three of you get your claws into William,’ she started up again, ‘until he thinks his only future’s in this bloody place.’

‘Claws?’ His dad sounded baffled. ‘That’s how it feels?’

‘There’s a big world out there, I want him to feel he has choices.’

‘Of course he will. Give me some credit, Evelyn.’

His mother exhaled loudly. ‘Robert and Howard – they’re always there. And if William goes into the business … I know it sounds pathetic, Paul, but sometimes, I think William loves them as much as he loves me and you.’

William had leapt up then, pulled the door open and charged in, climbing onto her lap and holding her face in both his hands. ‘I love you most! I promise!’

‘Well hello, Mr Elephant Ears.’ His dad laughed. ‘Evelyn, you know I love you most too, don’t you?’

‘How much?’ she asked, softening.

He looked out of the window. ‘Enough to throw the monkey mask away.’

She leant into him and the three of them were a lovely tangle of laps and arms and cheeks. ‘I’d love that.’ And even though William thought he’d miss the monkey game, he’d rather not see his mum so scared and lonely again.

‘Mum,’ he said after a moment of cuddling, ‘Uncle Robert has a tiny blue vein, just there.’ He reached up and touched her temple.

‘Really?’ Dad said. ‘Well spotted, William.’

‘Howard told you, didn’t he?’ his mum said.

William shook his head, remembering his promise to Howard.

‘Yes, he did.’ She patted his back. ‘You don’t have to lie.’

He looked up at her; she was still soft and cuddly, but there were tears in her eyes again.

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