‘If I do not give him a piece of my mind …’ ‘No, Gabriel,’ said Ashbourne, laying down a book which he had taken from Michael’s bookcase and which he had been perusing off and on without taking in any of the contents. ‘It was really far too much to expect that he would be able to stay in the same room as myself, you know.’ ‘But given the circumstances—’ ‘Whatever the circumstances.’ ‘But, Father—’ A slow smile spread across Ashbourne’s face. He made no reference to the fact that this was the first time that Gabriel had ever addressed him in such a way. ‘Give him time,’ he said. ‘But don’t let him be alone for too long.’ Gabriel was very torn. On the one hand, he felt for Michael, for he knew from experience how difficult it was to come to terms with old wrongs. On the other, his father ought not to have been left alone. Looking at the man whom he had once thought he detested, he realized to his surprise that he had become fond of him. With a flash of insight he understood that this might be partly to do with Ashbourne’s impending fatherhood, an experience that he himself remembered and with which he could empathize.
