‘Yes.’

‘I always loved you.’

Their eyes met again.

‘Dormie wouldn’t let me near you. I only got to see you the once when you were little. You probably don’t remember. Perky little chap you were, very much the young man of the home with your other father away. You let me into the house, mistakenly thinking I was a doctor, come to attend to your mother. She was pregnant at the time with your sister. Anyway, she went wild. She said I’d manipulated the situation, threatened to end things with me. So, I begged her not to. Pleaded, promised I would do everything the way she wanted in the future – never attempt again to see you until after she’d gone. I don’t know why, but even then, I must have known I’d outlive her. She agreed - it worked for her because she didn’t want to share you, you see.’

‘She was insane,’ Owen said.

‘I know.’

Owen grunted. He didn’t know what to say.

‘Can you forgive me for leaving you with her?’

‘I don’t know.’ Owen shook his head. ‘I don’t know what your options were or what the alternative would have been.’

‘Can we talk again?’

‘Will you still be around?’

‘I’ll try.’

‘Hey!’ George landed on the seat next to Owen. ‘Come on. You should be at the front with me. Lexie can’t be much longer now. She’s already late.’