Goodmans Hotel

'And you and Tom?'

'We're fine. We know the worst about each other now, and we've never been better.'

'The relationship has survived, then, despite everything, you're still a couple. Not having known that kind of closeness to someone is one of the things in life I regret. That and not having children maybe.' He spoke softly, his eyes sharp and clear under his fine white hair.

'You would have made a terrific father.'

'Families are just the result of basic animal instinct, aren't they, dressed up as some kind of morally sound purpose in life? Of all the family groups you've encountered, how many would you volunteer to join, assuming that you could? Not many, I'm sure. Better like this, with friends with whom you have things in common, not stuck with people you don't get on with because you happen to be related. Tom was always so sure you were exactly what he wanted. I'm enormously glad that you're together again.'

'And he's what I want. Our being so different is part of the attraction. Our personalities complement one another.'

'Good. That's how it should be.'

'You must have felt drawn to him, to have helped him when he came out of prison.'

'There's a sort of honesty about Tom, despite the car thefts. He's practical, suspicious of things that seem too clever or too good to be true. He sees the quality of the joinery when we're admiring our own reflections in the gloss paint.'

'Yes. Doesn't stop him picking up other men from time to time though, does it?'

'Does that make you unhappy?'

'No. It's part of his nature. I don't think about it. Actually I am a bit worried about Darren. You know he's split up with Cheung. Last night he picked up the waiter in the hotel. I'm not saying he shouldn't have, but...'

'Difficult time for him, you're right. Not sure what you or I can do about it though.'

'He might listen to you.'

'But what is there I can say? He's grown up so much since I last saw him, not that many months ago, but he has grown up. It may have been selfish of me to get you to bring him here. This isn't a place for someone of his age. I wanted to see him, once more. If you and Tom were able to come again that would be nice, but maybe choose a date when he's otherwise engaged, sitting his exams or something.'

'Of course we'll come. What's it like for you here? Can you talk to anyone?'