‘I don’t know what Murt wants. But I don’t think he wants pity, not from me,’ Eileen said.

Jamie turned himself around, placed an elbow on the bar. He looked towards their booth. The table was honeycombed with empties. Sara, Breedge, Murt and Nugent all looked wired and exhausted.

‘Murt will be moving back in with the mother shortly, did he tell you?’

‘No,’ Eileen said.

‘That’s why she’s come out, really. Babby aside. It’s difficult, but they are friends again.’

‘I think that’s good, anyway,’ Eileen said.

‘Do you know why Murt went back into the hospital? Do you know why he came to stay with Nuge and us, which was, by the way, my idea?’

Eileen said nothing.

‘Living with Murt? Give me a break. Just try it someday, Eileen. She rang me up the night he went back into the hospital and you know what she said to me? She said, “He had to go.” She said, “It was me or it was him.” Imagine having to say that about your own son.’

‘Think what you like about me,’ Eileen said.

‘You tell me what’s best for that boy,’ Jamie said.

Eileen said nothing. Jamie took a drink of his drink.

‘There is no best.’