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I was still stunned by the week’s revelations. I should have been in glory, but what I felt was closer to the tranced horror of a child who has struck a match and somehow set fire to the curtains. It scared me that Caden was prepared to do this, with only minimal prompting. It should have been hard…

Friends called from London. “What are you doing all day?” they asked. Nothing was the honest answer, though I could hardly tell them that. Discipline is a muscle and mine was beginning to waste. The days stretched before me, long and formless. I thought idly about my book, and took myself shopp…

I ran my finger along the window ledge. There was a fine coating of dust on the paintwork. People were clearing out; the downturn had seen to that. I should probably try to negotiate a better price—six months’ rent here would take most of my savings—but I found that kind of conversation difficult. …

I turned to look at the man who’d spoken. He looked back at me. His look said he knew all my secrets, and found them unedifying.

“Who’s this then, lad? Your eldest?”

The others laughed.

“Didn’t like that, did she?” said another.

We went around the corner, out of sight. I could feel th…

The truth, as he must have known, was that I had nowhere to be. It’s dangerous, to strip people of their routines, then tell them to fill their time wisely. Above the funnel of his collar, his face was white and vulnerable. He looked frozen. I went to kiss his cheek, and as I leant in to close the …