Theresa looked into his eyes and said quietly, ‘He needs this, Peter, and you know that as well as I do. He is a fecking idiot, but he is still your brother. Nothing you do or say can ever change that.’

He didn’t answer her; she had always insisted that they kept together, that they were closer than close. He knew that.

She touched his arm gently, and he put his large hand over hers. Looking into his eyes, she said forcefully, ‘You have to be there, you have to show some kind of solidarity. His sons will need to know that they are still part of the family – for the future. You’re as arrogant as he is in your own way. But you and I know that all this is killing him. He knows he did wrong. Wipe your mouth and stand godfather, and remember that whatever he is and whatever he’s done, he is still your little brother, and he is still my youngest son, and together you will always be stronger than anyone around you. He needs you to pull him back, rein him in, tell him the truth. I’m not asking you to take him back into the fold, I’m asking you to remember that Daniel needs you beside him. No matter how we feel about him and his actions, he is still our flesh and blood. He can’t even contemplate a life without you beside him – without you somewhere in his world he will wilt. I will not let you do that to him. I have stood beside you both, no matter what. I know you have more than a few bodies on your conscience, but I accept that like I accept Daniel. You know I never ask either of you boys for anything, but I am asking you now, Peter – give Daniel a fecking lifeline, tell him to sort himself out. Only you can tell him that. You’re the only person he has ever listened to.’

Peter sighed. His mother would stand by her boys no matter what and, as much as her words annoyed him, he knew she was right. Daniel would only listen to him now. Daniel would be so distraught about their estrangement that he would gladly take any criticism from Peter if he thought it would get things back to normal.

So he would go to the child’s baptism; his mother was right – they had to be seen to be back on track, even if, in reality, they were not. But Daniel had to play his part – admit that he was wrong and change his ways. Daniel had consistently refused to work as a team, never accepting that Peter was the person people wanted to deal with, who had the creds needed. Daniel had always gone out of his way to prove a point, push his luck, force an issue, settle a score.