‘Then there were a few frantic weeks. She got someone at the library to help her find out what it was like, what the course would be, whether there would be childcare in the same place so she could see Matthew whenever she wanted. It all seemed too good to be true–that’s what Donna said too. There was a crèche at the college, there were student flats for families–they were looking for girls just like her, some fresh start sort of thing. She said it was for Matthew’s future, but I could tell she was really excited too. So, the next thing was to go to speak to them and see if they would accept her…’

Sam could sense the sobs coming before they even started and put her hand on Angie’s arm. ‘It was all sorted. She was going to get the coach from the local bus station into London, then a connecting one straight to Leeds.’

‘And Matthew?’ asked Sam, knowing the answer.

‘She didn’t really trust anyone with him–certainly not her family, but she knew that I loved him too. I’d been there since he was born, I went loads of places with them, I was round here all the time. So, the idea was that I would look after him. We all went to the bus station together–she wanted to see him right up till the last minute…she could hardly bear to get on the bus, but she did, she did…they waved to each other then…’

Angie’s tears had stopped. She gazed off into the distance at nothing as Sam and Sheila waited. ‘I thought I’d treat him. We walked back to the kiosk and I asked him if he’d like some sweets. He got some chocolate and then I checked the bus times for us to come back as I’d promised Donna I’d stay at the flat with him. It was a while, we were going to have quite a wait so…I only thought I’d go to the loo. That’s all, just go to the loo.’

‘And did you take him with you?’ asked Sam.

Angie pulled her eyes back from whatever she was looking at. ‘Of course I did. We went into the ladies’ and I sat him outside the cubicle–they’re so small. You got kids?’ she asked Sam, who shook her head. ‘So bloody small those places, you can’t get yourself and a kid and a buggy in there. I told him I’d only be a second, went to the loo at the end, closed the door, stuck the buggy on the floor with the handles inside the loo–I was worried it would get pinched, and told him to sit there on the tiles outside and eat his chocolate.’

‘Then?’

‘You want the details? You want to know if I wiped my arse?’