Simone’s mind races – what does the woman want with Dominic? Who’s reported them? For what? Maybe Dominic’s done something. She should have come down on him harder after the incident at school. She should have asked more questions before allowing Polly to lead him away. She should have insisted on remaining with him. Terry would have insisted. Terry wouldn’t have been mild and meek. She wishes he was there. She was trying to seem flippant, amenable, innocent, but there she was caring too much again about what others might think. She offers the police officers tea. Employing the polite tones of her childhood, she sashays around the kitchen with inquiries as to milk and sugar, muttering niceties. But the police officers are young and slightly awkward. They won’t join her in the charade. Their answers are courteous, but she can see their eyes darting about the flat, looking and judging. Mostly, they sit without talking, sipping tea despite the heat. She listens hard for clues to emerge from beneath Dominic’s closed door.

Finally, Polly returns. When she does so, she nods to the police officers who stand and occupy themselves by the window, then she pulls out a chair and sits across from Simone. Dominic has not come out of his room. Hands placed on top of each other on the table, Polly exhales heavily, as though she and Simone are not on opposite sides of authority, not here because it has been ordered, but old friends sharing the day’s woes. “How are you doing?” she smiles.

“Fine,” says Simone, more perfunctorily. “What’s all this about?”

Polly smiles again, relaxed, easy. How does a person become this way? “Has everything been alright lately, in the family? Dominic tells me you’ve got a new job?”

“Yes,” says Simone. “Just on reception at a gym. Nearby.”

“Great.” Polly keeps smiling. “How’s that going?”

Simone hesitates, searching for the condescension in Polly’s tone, but she finds none. “It’s good,” she answers. “It’s going well. I’ve only just started.”

“Wonderful.” The smile never seems to leave Polly’s face and Simone finds herself wondering if the woman sleeps this way, her cheeks plastered upwards. “And how are you managing balancing the job with your young family? It can be tough.” She nods towards Jasmine whose eyes haven’t left the TV. “Do you have help from Dad? Or your family maybe?”

“Jasmine’s dad is wonderful,” says Simone quickly. “Terry loves spending time with her, and he’s not working, right now, so he’s usually around. He’s a great father.” She pauses. “Dominic’s dad passed away a number of years ago. Unfortunately. He was a great father too.”

“Sorry,” says Polly. Her eyes don’t move from Simone’s for a second. She is still smiling. “And your partner, Terry is it, is he good with Dominic too?”

“He loves Dominic.”

Polly nods but doesn’t speak.

Simone attempts to be similarly reserved, but the silence seems to draw words out of her. “They’re boys, aren’t they? They play footie together and stuff.”