‘I’m fine, thanks, Tom. How are you?’

‘Well. Going well.’

And then he is silent, and I’m not sure what is going on. I figure I should be making conversation, but I don’t want to mention his job again in case there are more hiccups. And then he breaks it with, ‘I was wondering if I could come and stay for a night?’

‘For work? For an interview?’

‘No. No. Just to stay. I …’

It doesn’t seem like such a weird request, given how much he wanted to be here after James died, but he is making heavy going of it. I suppose now that it is just me, the prospect of a sleepover is much more daunting. Who is going to cook the meals? Who will handle the small talk?

‘I’d like to have another night out there, and just remember how it all was, if that’s okay?’

‘Sure. I’d like that.’

‘And to tell the truth, the last time I spoke to you, you worried me a bit, the way you were talking.’

‘You thought you’d keep an eye on me?’

‘When I told Marko how you were talking, he asked if I still liked the idea of staying over. I said I did.’

‘Bloody Marko. Listen, Tom, you are welcome to come, but come for your own stuff — don’t come thinking you’ll be my nurse or babysitter.’

‘I wasn’t thinking that. The thing is, after our conversation I did a bit of research into your … situation … I thought you might want to hear it.’

‘My situation?’ I don’t know whether he means my trouble with boxes and Buzzcut, or that he thinks I might be bonkers. ‘I would certainly like to hear what you’ve found, whatever it is. When do you want to come?’

‘Um, tonight?’

‘Tonight?’

‘I just found out I don’t have to work Saturday — tomorrow. So it would fit in fine, if it works for you?’

‘Yeah. Whenever suits.’ No point standing on ceremony now.

‘All right. I’ll see you tonight.’

‘Great. See you then. Bye.’

I put the phone down, and consider ringing Marko to tell him to back off. Instead, I focus on whether there is a bed in one of the spare rooms with sheets on it — clean sheets. I think Mick put his stuff in the main guest bedroom, but he get didn’t a chance to sleep there. Then Marko slept in there. I check the room next to it, across from James’s room, and find that Sarah has left it with crisp sheets and a doona in a bright cover. At least Tom won’t think I’m a complete disaster. But if he does, it won’t change anything.