Seeing the irritated way Curtis was glaring at his son, Ruby jumped in again. ‘He’ll be okay now he’s got the medicine and that.’

‘Just an ear infection,’ Paula added. ‘But Ruby did the right thing to call. With the antibiotic, he should be fine in a couple of days.’

‘Doctor fixed you up, has she?’

Jye nodded, which seemed to be enough to appease his father. Curtis then scanned the other faces in the room—Paula, Nicole and Ruby—and he must’ve decided that no one was out to get him right at the moment.

‘Quite a bad gash on your forehead, Mr Wigney,’ Paula ventured.

‘Oh yeah … fucking thing.’ He poked his grease-black finger around the edges of the wound. ‘The dropkick at the wrecker’s yard doesn’t know how to store shit properly. Huge fucking piece of junk fell on my head.’

‘It’d be better with a few stitches,’ said Paula. ‘I mean, I’m here and I’ve got everything I need in the bag. I could stitch it for you.’

Curtis looked at Paula for several seconds, assessing if she was causing him grief or taking the piss or pulling some other scam he didn’t quite understand. Eventually he said, ‘Why the fuck not? Where do you want me?’

Paula swung one of the straight-backed dining chairs into a clear space and indicated he should sit there.

Curtis guffawed. ‘How about this, Nicole? A doctor doing house calls! Pretty good, eh?’

‘Yeah,’ said Nicole with a weak smile.

‘What about you, Ruby?’ Curtis asked. ‘Is there something wrong with you the doc can fix while she’s here?’

‘Nuh. I’m okay.’

Curtis’s tone suddenly turned ugly. ‘Sure about that? Maybe the doctor can give you a fucking pill to wipe that nasty bitch look off your face.’

Paula felt the air in the room tighten up like a held breath. She feared she’d made a mistake by offering to stay and treat his wound.

‘Where can I wash my hands, Ruby?’ Paula asked. ‘Oh, and could you find me a clean towel, please?’

‘No worries,’ said the girl, leading the way to the kitchen.

While Paula rinsed her hands at the kitchen sink, Ruby brought soap and a small towel. Paula gestured for Ruby to stay a moment.

‘Does your stepfather ever hurt you?’ she asked in a low voice.

Ruby shook her head. Paula held her gaze—Are you sure?—and the girl shook her head again, emphatically. ‘I won’t take any shit from him,’ she said firmly.

‘I believe you.’

‘If he gets riled up, I can go and stay with my grandparents.’

‘But you want to stay here to keep an eye on your little brother?’ Paula guessed.

Ruby shrugged. Yes.

‘You know, there are people who can help you and your mum and your brother if—’

‘Ruby! Get us a beer!’ Curtis yelled from the living room.