‘Yeah, we dated for a while. But at the end of the day she just wanted me for my money. At least, I think she did . . . she took off when the cops started looking at me.’

Mackerel let his face fall, which wasn’t hard. That particular betrayal had hurt.

‘You dated Atlanta Parks?’ said Kane, then looked indignantly at Shelby. ‘And no one ever told me?!’

After that, Uncle Mack had him hooked. He eased off on the criminal talk and, by the end of dinner, Uncle Mack was Kane’s new favourite relative.

He had never been anyone’s favourite in this family.

It was strange. Watching himself cheer up his nephew, he kept thinking back to what Shelby had said.

Everyone likes me?

It wasn’t true. He had been run out of town. He was an outcast.

But perhaps things had changed. Everything had been rearranged. Maybe in this world he was actually an okay guy? Maybe?

Maybe Big Mane was right. Maybe he was a good bloke?

After dinner Shelby and Fiona cleaned the table and Fiona stacked the dishwasher. Mackerel wanted to help, but the moment dinner was over Kane started pulling on his arm.

‘Oi, Uncle Mack, come with me.’

He spoke with the ease of wealth – it wasn’t a request, it was a command.

He led Mack down the stairs into the rumpus room, which took up the entire basement level. It had lush chairs, rich red carpet and two large TVs set up beside each other on the same wall.

‘Dad bought two so that we could play Xbox together, but he was never very good at it,’ said Kane. ‘You know how to play, though, right?’

‘I’ll whoop your arse, kid,’ said Mackerel, sitting down into a couch so comfy it was like being held by a shagpile rug. Shelby came down to check on them a few minutes later, bringing ice-cream for Kane and a beer for Mackerel.

Kane and Mackerel played for hours. Mackerel was genuinely having fun, and he played well. Kane had faster reflexes, but Mackerel had the patience and strategic thinking that came with age. Besides, he always played better when he was tipsy, and Shelby was vigilantly checking in on the rumpus room, always making sure he had a beer to hand. He wasn’t sure why she was being so nice, after the way he’d behaved at dinner, but it was welcome.

Finally Kane’s eyes began to slide shut, and soon he was snoring against Mackerel’s shoulder.

It made Mack’s heart twist up like a stone. He swept him into his arms and walked up the stairs to the living area. Fiona and Shelby had been deep in conversation but fell silent as Mackerel approached.

‘Where’s his room?’ said Mackerel, a little resentful that Fiona was still there. He wanted to speak to Shelby about Davey once they were alone.