‘I understand. There’s stuff both of us shouldn’t of done, yeah? So, maybe we just forgive each other and move on.’

Vernon looked at his son. ‘I don’t know what to do.’

‘I know.’

‘What’s with all this?’ He indicated his son’s face, arm, chest. He hadn’t seen his legs yet and noticed for the first time a large bruise, extending from the boy’s shoulder. It was yellow and large.

‘Yeah. Well. It was worse yesterday, when it happened. Worse than when Kelly saw me, too.’

‘What happened?’

‘Not sure I want to tell you.’

‘Don’t be a dickhead, mate.’

‘You know Brendan Cahill?’

‘Sort of. A bit. I know of the Cahills.’

‘Big bastard. Mean, you know? Melissa went to school with him. They were in the same year, had a few classes together. She’s come in here to see me, did you know?’

Vernon shook his head. So, she’d forgiven him. He wasn’t sure what to make of it.

‘She moved back just recently. Told me about her new life, and all that. She’s doing well. She is.’ Caleb had been looking down while talking about his ex-wife and now looked up. ‘I told her I was sorry, you know? She didn’t say anything to that but she did nod. I hope that’s okay. S’pose I can’t do much else. Beyond never doing anything like it ever again.’

Vernon said slowly, ‘Yeah.’

‘Still can’t look at her, Dad.’ He shook his head, bunched his eyes. ‘So Brendan runs into her on the street after she got back, just a few weeks ago. Apparently. This is what he told me anyway. Saw her face, saw her nose . . . gets all angry about it and I can’t blame him, really, can I? And he decides to come and visit me, let me know what he thinks about the whole thing.’

Vernon knew where this was going and looked down to afford his son some privacy while he shared it. He risked a glance, though, and found his son searching for his face.

‘So he tells me this last time that he’s aiming to put a beating on me for every day I was married to her. So three years, roughly, he tells me. And he laughs, you know? He bloody laughs at me. And he gets free rein in here. Whatever he pleases. They let him in, show him to my room, and stand right outside the door while he beats on me. Brought a cricket bat last time. Dislocated this just yesterday.’

Showed his wrist.

‘Just snapped it. Doctor said he had to look at the x-rays but he thinks it’s dislocated.’

His father was silent for a moment. ‘When did this all start?’

‘First time was two weeks ago. Last week Reverend Kelly saw me and I was bruised, sure. But then he came back just yesterday.’ Caleb rolled his eyes. ‘I think he just wants an excuse to hit people.’

‘Ah, mate. I’m sorry.’

‘Just glad you’re here now.’