‘It’s like she put a spell on me,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I was sick with her, diseased. She was so full of life.’

Jenny thought about slapping the knife away from her neck. ‘You’re just another pathetic old man fucking young girls. It’s the oldest story in the world.’304

Craig didn’t seem to be listening. ‘She was there when I popped round to see Hannah one time. Hannah wasn’t in but we got chatting. She actually saw me as a man, you know? Not a dad or a husband or a sad old loser. I felt invisible before I met her, do you know what that’s like?’

‘Every middle-aged woman on the planet knows what that’s like.’

Craig shook his head. ‘I’m not a bad man.’

Jenny couldn’t believe his bullshit. ‘You killed her.’ She leaned forwards, not caring about the knife, feeling it stretch her skin. ‘Your daughter’s best friend. She was carrying your baby.’

‘It was just supposed to be fun,’ Craig said under his breath. ‘Nothing serious. But she got clingy. Wanted to tell Hannah about us, but I talked her out of it. Wanted me to leave Fiona.’

His hand was shaking, the knife with it. The tip gently pierced Jenny’s skin and she felt a prick of pain, blood dripping down her neck.

Craig hadn’t noticed. ‘Then with the baby, she went crazy when I suggested getting rid of it, said she was going to tell everyone what kind of man I was. She had her phone out, was calling Fiona to tell her. I couldn’t let her ruin everything.’

‘I can’t believe you’re making excuses.’

He gave her a resigned look like he had no control over his actions. ‘If I had more courage, I would kill myself. I’ve thought about it. A bottle of whisky and some pills in the bath. But I’m not brave enough, I’m not strong enough.’