They talked about the boys, the weather, the coming school celebrations, but it didn’t really matter what they talked about, just that the words provided a passage for the affection between them. ‘Love you, Dad,’ she said when he was ready to pass over to Helen.

‘Say it again,’ said Pearly.

‘What?’

‘Tell me again,’ said Pearly. Leanne laughed.

‘Love you, Dad,’ she said.

Kevin came out to the airport to meet Pearly, and as they drove into the city they talked more about the situation. Kevin had a less pessimistic view than on the phone the night before because he was sober, and it was daytime. Most problems seem to diminish in the light. Pearly noted his son was neatly dressed to meet with the accountant. ‘I’m glad you let us know about things,’ said Pearly.

‘I’m sorry for being a bit over the top last night,’ Kevin said.

‘No problem.’

‘Actually I don’t drink much. I’ve never been into it.’ Pearly knew that to be true, at least during the years that Kevin lived with them. Boozing wasn’t one of his failings.

‘It’s a wretched thing if it gets a grip on you,’ Pearly said. ‘I’ve seen some first-rate people brought down by drink.’

He wanted to be positive and restrained himself from criticism. He wanted Kevin to feel support, concern, even affection. ‘We talked with Leanne last night,’ Pearly said. ‘She sends love. I said I was coming up but didn’t go into the reasons. Do you keep in touch?’

‘We do, actually,’ said Kevin, to Pearly’s surprise. Turned out there was more communication between brother and sister than between Kevin and his father. Pearly thought about that as they neared the central city, as the traffic thickened, as Kevin described Lim Wilson, his business partner, and also the accountant whose office they were nearing.

‘Lim?’ said Pearly enquiringly.

‘He’s Singaporean. Younger Chinese there often have a combination of Chinese and English names. He’s been here quite a few years, though. We get on well. Nothing that’s happened is his fault.’ Pearly was going to ask what qualifications Lim had, but instead said that he’d found most Asian people to be shrewd and hard-working. After all, Kevin’s own CV was pretty sketchy. Pearly was aware that Kevin was making an effort to reach out, tentative though it was, and it created a slight awkwardness, both of them fearing a false move that might cause withdrawal.

‘I’d hate to drive every day in this traffic,’ said Pearly as they neared Ponsonby. It was a neutral topic and safe enough for phatic conversation. Time enough to dwell on Kevin’s money problems.