I hear Jaxon say something, but his voice is also too soft for me to make out whole words. I strain my ears as Adam and the officer continue talking. Only Adam’s voice reaches me.

‘His son needs him home … Take all my details … Why not? … I’ll check on him … But … No … Can’t you have them dropped? … That’s not fair … He didn’t do … Please, Officer …’

I bite my nails.

‘I’m happy to pay for the damages to the neighbour’s postbox he sideswiped, and as for the other complaints … I’ll be back,’ Adam says finally. It doesn’t sound like it’s gone well.

I jump up as my father and Jaxon walk away from the desk, and follow them back to the car. Neither is particularly interested in me at the moment.

‘We’re going to Doug’s neighbour’s,’ my father says as he pulls out of the parking lot. ‘I can drop you home first.’

‘No, it’s okay,’ I say. ‘I’ll come.’

‘You sure?’

I nod.

‘I’ll stop for some supplies first; the usual should do the trick.’

‘You don’t have to,’ Jaxon mumbles from the back seat.

‘I promised, didn’t I?’ Adam says. ‘You’ll have your dad back by evening, bud, sober and sorry as hell, I’ll make sure of it.’

We stop outside a small grocery store, and Jaxon and I wait in the car as Adam runs in, leaving the heater on. I peek around to the back seat, not sure what to say. But Jaxon’s got his earbuds in, fingers tapping on his knees to some silent soundtrack, eyes closed. I’m not offended; he needs his own space. He’s the kind of person who freezes up when things get tough, like a computer with too many programs open at one time. I wouldn’t want to talk either.

My father’s back in a minute, carrying two shopping bags. Boxes of fancy-looking chocolates stick out the top—there must be at least ten or so.

We continue on to Doug’s house and pull into the driveway.

‘You sure I can’t call my mom to pick you up in a taxi?’ my father says, turning to me.

‘No, it’s okay, I’ll wait here.’

‘Okay. I’ll leave the keys in the ignition so you can listen to music.’

I recline my seat, take off my shoes, wiggle my toes in my socks and stretch my legs, my feet up on the dashboard. I remember I still have the snacks I packed for our last trip and pull out a chip packet.

I watch out the window as Adam and Jaxon walk to the first neighbour’s door and knock. My father has a box of chocolates in one hand, and his other grips Jaxon’s shoulder.