‘Okay,’ said Pearly. ‘You’ve got that off your chest. Both of us are at fault maybe, but that’s not much help with what’s going on now. I can’t do anything until I’ve got the full picture. You know your mother and I’ll always do what we can, but we’ve got no idea of the scale of things. We know virtually nothing about your business. You’ve told us bugger all.’

So Kevin told him a great deal, some of it useful and relevant, some of it just coming out because it had been held in for a long time, and he was in the mood to let it go. Pearly understood the need, and probably Kevin wouldn’t remember half of what he was saying anyway. Pearly had complained that Kevin didn’t let them into his life, and now they were being dragged in to clean it up. When his son began to repeat himself, Pearly cut in. ‘Sounds like just debt anyway and not fraud or anything. Insurance is about the fine print, and there’s always plenty of that. Hopefully your partner will be able to get some resources together as well. You know we’ll do what we can within reason. We’re here for you. I think I’d better come up. Okay? We can all get together, your accountant as well. Tomorrow. I’ll put everything off and come up tomorrow if you can just tee up the others.’

Kevin gave no outright thanks, but something of his old confidence returned with Pearly’s support. He would have talked more, but Pearly said he needed to make arrangements and would let him know about an arrival time when he knew. ‘Not a good idea to drink when you’re worried about things,’ he told his son. ‘Keep a clear head, and we’ll see what can be done.’

‘I’m not pissed. I’m just worried to hell.’

‘Okay,’ said Pearly. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll get something sorted. These things happen in business, so don’t beat yourself up too much. We’re here for you.’

He went with Helen to the big sofa, and she sat close to him to hear the story and for mutual support. ‘It seems the business is close to going belly-up,’ said Pearly. ‘Mainly it’s the fire. The insurance won’t pay out. I’m going up tomorrow morning if I can get a flight from Christchurch. I’ll have to leave early. I’ll go to the accountant’s with Kevin and his partner. I expect it’ll be a damn mess.’

‘We’ll help, though,’ said Helen. It wasn’t a question.

‘Of course we will, but it needs to be sorted properly. We’ll need to get a lawyer to look at the insurance side of things, I suppose. There’s always all that weasel stuff in the fine print.’