I held her, felt her squeezing – that was good, a squeeze said a lot – kissed her neck. ‘I’ve really missed you.’

‘I’ve missed you too,’ Winford said, coming out of the bathroom. ‘Shall we group-hug?’

He came in behind me, arms round me, hands on Biddy. She laughed, I did too. Was he drunk? Yes, of course.

‘I was just going to get some beers,’ Biddy said, pulling away, smiling. ‘Back in five minutes.’

I sat at the outdoor table with Winford, trying to steer the conversation, to avoid talking about –

‘How’s my Peruvian fuck-buddy?’ He was slurring, must have started early.

‘Uruguayan,’ I said. ‘Still looking for work.’

‘Surely he’s due to retire soon. I mean, at his age.’

‘Um. Yeah, right.’

He leant towards me. ‘Seriously, look at my face. I’m thirty-one. Zac’s not twenty-two. And he’s not fucking South American.’

‘People age differently,’ I said. ‘You probably use moisturiser.’

‘Well, I do, as a matter of fact.’ He swept a finger over his cheekbone.

‘Sorry, Win, I feel I’ve heard this all before.’ I sat forwards, rubbed my thighs.

‘Biddy said you love your kids though.’ He sat back, lit a cigarette.

I could refuse to answer. I could stand. I could leave. ‘Don’t talk about my kids, Win.’

‘Oh, sorry.’ He raised his hands, his eyebrows. ‘I’d just be a bit concerned if a compulsive liar was looking after my kids. Biddy’s worried too.’

A spot of vertigo. I could be a violent man. I could. ‘I don’t like your insinuation about Zac and my kids. I’m very fucking sensitive and attuned to their needs and wants. If you’re fucking –’

Biddy shouted ‘I’m home’ at the front door.

Cedric barking in Noel and Winford’s bedroom, Noel shouting, ‘Be quiet, you silly mutt.’

Biddy came into the kitchen, saw us in the backyard, waved half-heartedly. ‘I’m going to put these in the freezer for five minutes. Are you guys having fun?’

‘Oh, so much fun,’ Winford shouted. ‘I’m just heading out for a drink with that crackers woman from my work but I shouldn’t be long.’ He began to stand, looked at me, winked. ‘I’m only thinking of your children, Chris.’

Josh arrived an hour later, after texting to make sure Winford was out. They’d argued the last time, Winford’s fault. He wouldn’t stay long – fuck, he looked and sounded weak.

We sat together in the crack den, trying to converse. When Biddy went to the bathroom, he turned to face me on the sofa. ‘What about Sarah? How’s she going, brother?’

‘Yeah, fine,’ I said. ‘She’s doing fine, I think.’

‘Zac told me she’s –’

‘Hello, lovers,’ Winford shouted from the hallway. ‘Papa’s home again.’

‘Keep your bloody voice down, you dill,’ Noel shouted, presumably from their bedroom.