‘Well, she has to me. She says since Tyler’s the youngest, and a boy, he should be with his father, and she doesn’t believe in splitting up the children; so the girls would have to stay, too. They all need a strong, positive male model, Tyler for growing up to be a decent human being, the girls for choosing good husbands. I asked her about a positive female role model, and she said they were surrounded with them. Anyway, children really needed their mother only when they were small.’

‘Is she serious?’ David asked.

‘Well, I think maybe she’s just practising a speech for Ted when he agrees to be reasonable enough to listen. She certainly isn’t thinking anything about what on earth she’d do with her life if they did split up.’

‘I’ve thought what she has really been hankering for is a good row with her mother. And maybe that’s what this really is.’

‘What use is it?’ Laura asked. ‘I said to her, “What if Ted doesn’t want the children, can’t handle them by himself?” She said, “Don’t be silly. Daddy’s there to help.”’

‘Well, I can clear that up for her!’ David said energetically.

The thought of taking on the responsibility of Mary and the children had been depressing to him, but he had felt required by that possibility. He did not feel required to continue batching with his distressed son-in-law and inadequately reassuring the bewildered children.

‘I can’t just tell her the time’s up,’ Laura said. ‘She’s my sister after all.’

‘I’ll try to see what I can do,’ David said.

‘Now?’

‘Why not?’ David said.

‘Would you mind if I stayed here?’ Laura asked. ‘It feels more like home than my own home at the moment.’

‘If I’m not back by noon, maybe you could make some sandwiches for the kids. They’ve taken to coming home every day for lunch, I suppose to see it’s still here even if their mother isn’t.’

‘Of course,’ Laura said. ‘Do you want me to drive you?’

‘No,’ David said, and he smiled at his daughter. ‘I need the time the bus takes.’

He did not use it to think of his confrontation with Mary. He thought instead about his other life, tomorrow night’s dinner with Constance and Diana. Diana was preparing it, and after dinner Constance would read to him a while.

‘This is such a funny, empty house,’ Mary said as she welcomed him in. ‘Nobody ever seems to be home, not even Laura. She’s been gone all morning.’

‘Peaceful for you,’ David said.

‘How can anything be peaceful for me?’ Mary sighed.

‘I left Laura at the house to make lunch for the kids.’

‘Why aren’t they in school?’ Mary asked in sudden real concern.

They are, but they come home for lunch now. I think they keep hoping you’ll be there.’