She laughed. “Is that comfy?”

Eyes closed, smile widening, he chuckled. “Not really.”

“Which one was it tonight?”

She was talking about the bedtime story. Gary grinned. “Which do you think?”

“The caterpillar?”

“The caterpillar.” He opened his eyes and looked at the TV, playing one of Aissa’s favourite game shows. “Is that bloke still being a dick?”

“Yep. Blaming the whole team because he didn’t know the capital of Denmark.”

“You’re going to hate me…”

“Please tell me you’re joking.”

He chuckled. “I’ve never been much good at geography.”

“It’s Copenhagen. And I could never hate you.”

He was about to reply when his phone rang from the coffee table. He moved suddenly towards it, almost knocking Aissa’s hot chocolate out of her hand. It had been the same ever since Scott told him what was happening in his marriage: waiting for the next call. Gary wasn’t sure if he could call Scott, what the consequences would be for his friend.

Unlike the other times, it was Scott. He answered quickly. “Mate.”

“All right, Gary?” He didn’t sound like Scott at all. There was none of the usual confidence, no bantering note in his voice. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Never. Give me a sec.” Gesturing to Aissa, Gary took the call into the next room, walking quietly so he didn’t wake the children. He went into the garden and closed the door behind him, the spring air bracing. “I’m glad you rang. I’ve been waiting to hear from you. I’ve felt so damn useless, but I didn’t know if I should call.”

“You made the right decision,” Scott said. “If you rang and she was there… I don’t know what she’d do. But it wouldn’t be good.”

“Is it safe to talk?” This conversation didn’t match with the swing set at the end of the garden, the trampoline sitting next to it. “This is going to sound nuts, but is this–”

“A secure connection?” Some of Scott’s old, well, Scottness returned to his voice. “She’s out for the evening.”

They paused. It was difficult to know how to talk to him. Usually they slipped into the easy banter they’d started in university together. A cold breeze blew through the garden, against Gary’s bad hip, and he was reminded all over again of why he had to do everything to help his friend.

“Scott?” Gary said finally.

“I’m here.” Scott was crying; Gary had never heard him like this before, and he found himself struggling to think of something to say. “I can’t take this. It’s non-stop. It’s never going to end. When all the money’s gone, when all my bloody dignity’s gone… and even then she won’t stop. She’s never going to stop. Maybe it’s time.”

A chill touched Gary’s spine. He should’ve done more. He’d kill Casey if that’s what it took. For Scott. For the man who’d saved his life. “You better not be saying what I think you are.”

“It’s hardly been three weeks,” Scott went on, as though Gary hadn’t spoken. “And already she’s turned me into a snivelling mess. I don’t even recognise myself. When I look in the mirror, it’s like, like, who the fuck is that bloke?”