‘OK,’ said Larry, ‘we can do this another night.’ He took his mother’s arms, drawing her from the chair. Over her shoulder he hissed: ‘Where’s Alec?’

Kirsty looked round, shrugged. Ella, her mouth crammed with banana, pointed to the open door.

After this, the evening failed at its own pace. Ella was sat in front of the television set, as if, in any emergency, this was the natural thing to do with a child. Kirsty stayed upstairs with Alice, coming down half an hour later to make fruit tea for her. Alec, lurking in the kitchen, knew that he should go up and check the pillbox. It was his job – the only one of any consequence that he had – but to go into that room now and take the risk of catching Alice’s eye, of not being able to defend himself from what he saw there, of her seeing how utterly split he was between pity and disgust, this was too much. And really, what did it matter if she took her medication? Her fucking medication. It was rare for Alec to speak an obscenity, unusual for him even to think one, but he found himself alone with the supper dishes, muttering to the soapsuds like a derelict. Fucking Larry with his fucking wife. Their idiotic fucking behaviour. His own behaviour. His own fucking stupidity. His fucking cowardice.

‘Not the hugest success,’ said Larry, breezing in with a tray from the dining room.

‘Are you surprised?’ asked Alec. ‘When you go on like that?’ He didn’t look at Larry but he heard the sharp offended intake of air.

‘Like what?’

‘Bickering.’

‘Who was bickering?’

‘Who do you think?’

‘So it’s all my fault?’

‘Can’t you see how ill she is?’

‘Of course I can see! What do you expect me to do about it?’

‘Show some basic consideration.’

‘Well, that’s pretty rich coming from you,’ said Larry, prodding his brother’s shoulder as if to remind him who, between the two of them, had the physical power. ‘Where were you hiding? Eh? Where did you run away to?’

‘You know who you remind me of these days?’ said Alec, scrubbing the non-stick surface off the rice pan. ‘Dad.’

‘I was wondering how long before someone came out with that crap. I just didn’t expect it to be you. Christ! A couple of drinks would improve you no end.’

‘Yeah. I can see how much good it’s done you.’

‘And try getting laid once in a while. I’ll even lend you the money.’

‘Is that what you do? Is that why you two can’t talk to each other any more?’

‘Keep your nose out of it, Alec.’

‘Or were we supposed not to notice?’

‘Go to hell!’

"You go to hell.’

‘What’s going on?’ asked Kirsty.

‘Nothing at all,’ said Larry. He picked up a cloth, and with elaborate care started to dry one of the glasses.