Standing up, she kissed Suzy’s cheek softly. ‘Look after yourself love, you’ll see me again soon.’ Suzy stared down in her cup, her eyes riveted to the tea leaves floating on the bottom.

She was never going to get away from the Cavanaghs.

Briony walked into her house with a heavy heart. She wished she could get on with Suzy, could like her. She had to if she wanted to see the child.

Tommy was on the phone in the den; she smiled as she heard him laughing. His back was to her as she stood in the doorway.

‘Don’t worry, love, I’ll be there. Briony watches me like a hawk, but she can’t watch me all the time!’ He laughed again.

Briony felt as if someone had punched her in the solar plexus; all the air seemed to leave her body in a split second. She stepped out of the doorway and back into the hall. Tommy’s voice drifted out to her.

‘I’ll see you then, all right. Yeah, you too.’

Gathering up her strength she walked into the den.

‘Who was that, Tom?’ Her voice was brittle, over bright. Tommy smiled at her widely. ‘Hello, Bri!’ He walked across the room and hugged her tightly. ‘How’s it go with Suzy?’

Briony disengaged herself from his embrace. ‘All right. Who was that on the phone?’

Tommy flapped a hand at her.

‘Oh, Fat Peter. I’m doing a bit of business with him. You’re back early.’

‘Yeah, I gave Bernadette a miss. I’ll see her later.’

‘I dropped Danny Boy a line this morning, I’ll post it on me way out. He’s moved to the Island tomorrow so I thought a letter might cheer him up until he gets acclimatised.’ Tommy looked at his watch. ‘I’ve got five minutes before I have to go out, fancy a quick cuppa?’

The phone rang again and Tommy rushed to answer it. ‘Hello ... Oh hello Bern, hang on she’s here.’ He handed the phone to Briony and, kissing her on the cheek, went out of the room, leaving Briony more unsettled than ever.

‘I’ll ring you back Bernadette.’

She bit her lip. Since when had he called Fat Peter love?

Bernadette was lying in her darkened bedroom with a cold flannel across her eyes. ‘Oh Bri, this is torture.’ She spoke through her teeth.

‘Well if you have a facelift you have to expect a bit of pain, don’t you?’ Briony’s voice held no sympathy whatsoever. ‘He’s cut right through your skin to the bone...’

‘Oh shut up Bri, I feel sick as a dog!’

‘Well why didn’t you stay in the clinic then?’ You’ve been home a week and you haven’t stopped moaning!’

‘You know why. I wouldn’t leave that Marcus for longer than five minutes. You know what he’s like.’