Billy did not look the least ways contrite. He sat in one of Goodnight's chairs, Beau curled up comfortably at his feet, and scrutinized the way that Goodnight and the boy, Henry, interacted. Henry seemed to be avoiding looking at either of them too directly.

Billy relented a little. He got up from the chair, carefully stepping over the dog and heading toward the bedroom at the other end of the flat.

Behind him, he heard Henry softly say, "I didn't think I'd be interrupting but, you know. I got nervous. You weren't around."