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“Dylan.”

“I’m reading Janusz Sadowski’s land grab contract to repossess a partial greenbelt dwelling and build offices onsomething that I have a sneaky suspicion is a tax avoidance scheme.”

“Wow. Thrilling.”

“Basic. He thinks he can get away with it. He can’t. But there are ways.” He tapped his nose.

“You’re wasted being a lawyer. Too smart.” I tapped his nose too.

“Sweet talker. Not that smart. Also, I could never work in court. I’d wet myself as soon as someone shouted at me. Some of these people take intimidation to the next step. I’d be scarred for life.”

“I can imagine,” I said, snuggling up to him, condom between my fingertips. I wondered if it was bad form to just drop it and pretend it was nothing.

“Leave it on the floor,” he said. “I’ll mop tomorrow.”

“You’re off for a meeting at eight.I’llmop tomorrow.”

“So domestic.”

“Would make an excellent office cleaner.”

He kissed me.

“Would you…apply for a proper job? Full time?”

Good question.

“I applied for hundreds of jobs. Every day, for months, I found something and put an application in. My name is with every recruitment consultant. Yet here I am.”

“Shocking.”

“Not really. I don’t have any qualifications. No degrees. Nothing to show for my entire career. I was a doorman. That I also am quite good at maths, taught myself how to do self-assessments and read up on tax laws, and am really good at spreadsheets? Those kinds of skills are of no importance. I raised my son and got myself cleaned up, and I naively thought…that this was my life. I think I’ve lost my confidence now. I’m happy with the driving. I look after the grandchildren. I support my son. He’s happy too, being with Gray, studying, and trying to regain all the qualifications he could have had. I’m very proud of him. And apparently, he’s really good at maths as well. He just needs the confidence and stamina to sit through an entire exam without freaking out.”

“Good,” he said. “I’m really proud of you. Sometimes it’s hard to realise that we’ve got limitations. And to settle with the fact that…life doesn’t always go our way.”

“True.” I lay back, his hand in mine. Both of us naked under the cool duvet.

I liked this. So much. Just the two of us lying here talking about normal things.

“I understand what you did. When you gave up your business to care for your children. I would have done exactly the same. I don’t think it’s something a lot of men would dare to do. Just give yourself to your family like that.”

“No. It’s seen as weak. Women’s work. All that crap. I loved it. I loved spending time with them.”

“I get that.”

“I would again, if I could. But I need to work.”

“I do too. Just pay my way.”

“Stewart, I’m not rich. I may live in this house, but my child support payments are in arrears, and when the bills go out in two weeks, I will be left with less than ten thousand pounds in my account. That’s it. I’ve sold my bonds, my stocks and shares. I sold off my watches and my mother’s gold jewellery. I have given Veronica every single asset I have, except this house. I won’t be able to pay the bills to live here, come November.”

“Oh.”

I hadn’t realised how bad it was. I didn’t know what I had thought.

“And I need to speak to Gun Larsen about that tomorrow. I will have the kids here, but if I don’t sell the house and move somewhere smaller, I won’t be able to feed them.”

“Debts?” I asked before I could stop myself.