Briony pulled herself up to her full height and, walking across the room, slapped Kerry hard across the face. Then she grabbed her arm roughly and shouted: ‘You stupid little bitch! You stupid little cow! You think this is funny, clever, do you? You think you’ve got one over on us? What are you, on a death wish or what?’

She threw her on to the chair by the fire, then leaning over her, screamed, ‘You’ve ruined your life, you silly mare, if you could only see it! Pregnant? I could cheerfully throttle you!’

She began to slap Kerry around the head and shoulders, holding back the urge to punch her, rip at her hair, tear her skin with her nails.

‘My God, girl, you’ve really done it this time. You’re right, I can’t help you. No one can help you now. You wonder why I stick my nose in your business? I’ll tell you why. Because if it was left to you lot, you’d fucking crumble. You’re all as thick as shit! You especially. You’ve got a talent, a voice, you had something going for you, and now that’s nothing, that’s all finished, because the day you give birth, you’re a second-class citizen.

‘I liked Evander, believe it or not, I liked him a lot. But liking him ain’t enough. With him you would have been ostracised, shut out, people would have looked at you like you was dirt! Now you’ve got all that coming anyway, and for the rest of your life. And you have the cheek to come here and tell me what I’ve done wrong. It was a pity you didn’t think of that when you was counting the cracks on the ceiling, on your back for Evander bloody Dorsey!’

Kerry looked fearfully into Briony’s face. All the dark thoughts that plagued her in the night were being spoken out loud. The truth, as she had pointed out only minutes before, did hurt. It hurt a lot.

Briony paced the room, her hands shaking in temper. Bernadette lit her a cigarette and passed it to her.

Briony pulled hard on the cigarette. By now Kerry’s white face and dishevelled appearance were making her feel sorry for her sister, despite herself. She wanted to take her in her arms and tell her everything was going to be all right. But how could she? Nothing was ever going to be all right for Kerry Cavanagh again.

‘Are you sure you’re pregnant? I mean, are you really certain?’

Kerry sat hunched in the chair. She looked very small and forlorn, her face stained with tears and dirt. She nodded her head.

‘How long gone are you? I mean, is there still time to do something about it?’

‘I don’t know, I’m over three months.’

Briony closed her eyes and stubbed out the cigarette, immediately lighting up another.