Then there was the sound of shuffling inside. It took an age for her to come from wherever she’d been. The bed, the en suite? Eventually he heard the lock being pulled back and the handle came down. The door inched open and Mary peeked out, holding the door open only a crack as though she was dubious of who was really on the other side and was ready to slam it shut if needed.

‘Mary?’

He saw Mary’s shoulder’s slump, not in dejection but in relief. She opened the door and Grant could now see her fully. Tears were running down her cheeks, her eyes were bloodshot. The skin around her left temple was deep red and heavily swollen.

Grant’s heart jumped in his chest. He grabbed his wife and pulled her to him.

‘What’s he done now?’ Grant asked. His question was rhetorical, and Mary must have sensed that because she didn’t even attempt to answer.

Although Grant wanted to stay and comfort his wife, his anger got the better of him. He let go of Mary. She took one look at his face – the fury on it – and knew what was coming.

‘No, Steven, please. Don’t!’

It was too late. Ignoring her pleas, Grant stormed back out of the room, down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Out in the garden Ethan was still yakking away on the phone. Grant flung open the patio door from the kitchen and Ethan spun around at the unexpected noise. His eyes narrowed when he spotted Grant.

‘Dad.’

‘You little—’

Grant swiped at the phone in Ethan’s hand and it clattered onto the patio slabs, breaking into pieces.

‘What’s wrong with you?’ Ethan shouted.

Grant grabbed his son by the neck and pushed him back two steps, more or less taking him clean off his feet. For a couple of seconds a panicked look swept across Ethan’s face, but it was more surprise than real fear.

‘Get the hell off me!’ Ethan yelled, finding his feet. With one hand he yanked Grant’s knuckles from around his neck and with the other he sent a balled fist towards his father’s face.

Grant saw the punch coming and was able to duck enough to dodge the blow. He barrelled forwards and slammed into Ethan’s chest. Ethan stumbled back and fell to the ground, landing on the pieces of his shattered phone. Grant got to his feet and stood over his son, snarling like a dog.