Jack nodded as if he had scored a point but Paul went on, ‘Only your dad can be your dad. But do you think that no one except him should ever be able stay here with your mum?’

‘Yes.’

‘Not just now, that is. How about in six years, say, when you’ve gone to college like Lola?’

The shrug. ‘Dunno. Well, I’ll be gone then, won’t I?’

Out of sight, out of mind.

‘Hm. It’s just that it’s quite a long time for her to wait until then.’

‘Is she waiting?’

I broke in. ‘Just a minute. I’m not some … some cow in a pen, you know, to be discussed between the two of you.’

Paul’s mouth twitched.

Jack glared at him and then at me. ‘What do you want?’ he demanded. And that was the question.

I said slowly, ‘I would like him to stay, Jack, you know. If you don’t feel too bad about it. I’m sort of realising that I’ve been a bit lonely, sometimes, even though I’ve got you and Lo.’

Jack said tragically, ‘Mum, everyone’s lonely. Not just you.’

I would willingly be crippled with loneliness every hour of my life in order for Jack never to feel such a thing.

Paul was less stricken. ‘Everyone feels lonely some of the time, yes. But nearly all of us feel the opposite as well, quite often. I’ve seen you at school, lately. You like Max McLaren, don’t you?’

‘He’s okay.’

‘And what about tonight? You’ve got this wonderful family and there were all those friends sitting around the table eating chocolate pudding. It wasn’t lonely for any of us, was it?’

I would have treated this as a rhetorical question but Paul waited teacher-like for a reply.

‘No,’ Jack admitted. And then, logically enough, ‘So therefore my mum’s all right as well, isn’t she? She doesn’t need you.’

‘She doesn’t need me, no. That’s one of the things I value in her. But there’s a difference between needing and enjoying. There are times when it might be nice for her to have a partner. I think you’d concede that, wouldn’t you?’

Grudgingly he said, ‘I suppose.’

‘I like your mother very much. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her, you know. If that’s what you are worrying about.’

‘You mean, if you were her boyfriend?’

‘If I were or not. Either way, I wouldn’t hurt her. Or you.’

Jack considered this. ‘Do you think she’d be less sad?’

‘I hope so. Yes, I think so.’

I was surprised to learn that my son thought I was sad.

Jack turned back to me. ‘What would Grandad say about him staying here?’