Jason couldn’t help but laugh at his son’s flat expression. ‘Thirteen minutes,’ he warned him.

‘And counting. I know. Go.’ Walking across to him, Josh shooed him out. At ten years old, and still to hit the growing phase, Josh didn’t have a lot to be shy about, but Jason got it, and dutifully closed his door to allow him some privacy.

‘All right if I go in the shower, Karla?’ he called downstairs. ‘I…’ He stopped as she appeared in the hall, cling film in one hand, presumably with which to wrap the children’s lunches, and a coffee in the other. ‘I have my meeting with your father to prepare for,’ he finished, trying not to look too depressed at the prospect.

‘I know. I’ve rung work, told them I have an urgent dental appointment, so you go ahead,’ Karla said, mounting the stairs to hand him the coffee and then dashing down again.

‘Cheers.’ Jason had no idea how she’d made it so quickly, but he grabbed it gratefully. He had a feeling he might need plenty of caffeine today, and possibly something a lot stronger later.

‘Oh, in case I forget to say before you go,’ Karla shouted from the kitchen, as Jason headed back to the bedroom, ‘I love you, Jason Connolly.’

‘Me too,’ Jason shouted back. He couldn’t help wondering, though: would her love have wavered if he hadn’t been prepared to go through with this, which was undoubtedly going to be as humiliating as Fenton could make it?

Twenty minutes later, Jason cursed silently as he tried to get his collar to sit right. He loosened his tie and was halfway through re-knotting it when he stopped, surveying himself in despair in the mirror. I can’t believe I’m doing this. He was dressing as if he were going to an interview, about to be scrutinised for his first job. Obviously, he would be scrutinised by Fenton – when had he ever not been? – but more for his unsuitability than his ability. In Robert Fenton’s eyes, he was sadly lacking. Pulling the tie loose again, he yanked it off and tossed it on the chair. Should he even wear a suit? He would wear one if he were about to see his bank manager, but Fenton was his father-in-law. He shouldn’t have to dress up as if he were meeting royalty.

‘Bye,’ Karla called from downstairs, as he started unbuttoning his shirt. He never wore a suit in the office unless he had clients coming in, and he was feeling uncomfortable enough as it was. ‘Don’t forget to ring me. Good luck!’

‘Good luck, Daddy! Give my love to Grandad,’ Holly shouted.