She gaped at him for a few seconds then a smile crept slowly over her face. ‘I’d not mind a bit of a change. Life can get very quiet for an older widow without children or grandchildren, and my place is only rented. Look, you know my phone number. If you’re still willing when you’ve thought about this, and if your father agrees, let me know when you want me and I’ll be there. I’d better leave you to it, now.’

‘Mrs Burtill seems a sound woman,’ the lawyer said. ‘Very useful her seeing what your wife was like today. She’ll make a good witness.’

Tom wished there need be no witnesses, no court proceedings, for his children’s sake. But he knew Gail would make a fuss about the divorce, because she had nothing else in her life except him and the alcohol.

The chauffeur dropped Tom at his mother’s and took the lawyer to a hotel for the night, promising to bring him back the following morning.

He gave Tom his mobile number. ‘Mr Winter says I’m at your service for as long as you need me.’

‘Thanks.’ Tom took a deep breath and knocked on the front door, then went inside, calling, ‘It’s only me.’

‘So you’re back,’ his mother said sharply. ‘I saw the fancy car. Are you sure you can be bothered with us ordinary folk now?’

‘Don’t be daft, Mum.’ He hugged her then the kids, delighted to see them looking rosy and well looked after, for once. They were just going to bed, so he went up with them, kissing them goodnight and listening to them repeat their prayers after his mother. He remembered doing the same thing, but the words had been completely meaningless to him, just a ritual to please his mother.

As he followed her downstairs again, he could feel the butterflies in his stomach. It was one thing to talk of going against her wishes and making a new life for himself, another thing entirely to do it, mainly because he didn’t want to hurt her. ‘Where’s Brian?’

‘Thursday night. Church elders’ meeting.’

‘Oh yeah. I’d forgotten what day it was.’

‘Are you hungry?’

‘Not really. We – um, need to talk.’

She led the way into the sitting room, instead of using the small sunroom off the kitchen, so he knew she regarded this as a very serious occasion.

‘Tell me,’ she said once they were seated.

He explained more fully what had been happening lately, not glossing over Gail’s drunkenness this time, telling her how worried he had been about the kids and how despairing about his own future.

‘You took her for better for worse.’

‘And it’s been getting worse, not just for me. It’s actually quite dangerous for the kids to be left with her, because she ignores them.’ He took a deep breath and said it as plainly as he could. ‘Whatever happens, I’m not staying with Gail, Mum. Nothing will change my mind about that.’ He saw her open her mouth and repeated quietly but firmly, ‘Nothing. Only I didn’t know how to manage it and then when I lost my job …’