‘I don’t know,’ Alex said slowly. ‘I honestly don’t know. He didn’t say anything, but-Corinne he was just a few inches away from me. Surely he must have recognised his own father?’

‘It was a very complete disguise,’ she reminded him. ‘The wig and the hair and the padding. And he wasn’t expecting you to arrive today.’

The words, And he hasn’t seen you for weeks, hung in the air.

‘Did he tell you what he wanted?’ Corinne asked. ‘I think I’ve got that covered too, but I’d be glad of any “insider tips” you picked up.’

Oh sure, he thought, my son said he wanted me home for Christmas, like it was an impossible fantasy. He reckons he has a ‘sort of’ father, and he’s bracing himself for when I let him down.

‘Hey, there!’ Corinne was waving. ‘Anybody home?’

‘Sorry!’ he said, forcing himself to smile. ‘No, I didn’t get any inside information. You’ll have to tell me. What’s his big interest?’

‘Drawing, painting-anything to do with art.’

‘Doesn’t he like soccer or any sports?’

‘He watches them on television, but his interests are the quiet ones.’

‘Corinne, are you sure? He’s never said anything about drawing to me.’

‘Of course not. He knows you wouldn’t like it. But he’s passionate about drawing and painting since he discovered that he has a talent for it. He’s just getting deep into water-colours now, and if you gave him something connected with that he’d be thrilled. But I’ll bet you’ve bought him a pair of riding boots.’

‘Among other things,’ Alex growled. ‘I suppose you don’t want me to give them to him?’

‘That’s up to you.’

‘Sure!’ he snapped. ‘Like I’m going to dig my own grave by giving him something he doesn’t want, thus proving I’m the useless father that you claim! You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’

Once in a blue moon Corinne lost her temper. She did so now-big time!