Mel came over and kissed me. Followed up with a hug, which she almost never did in the morning unless I had a job interview or something else big going on. She had her working-day armour back on: crisp white blouse, killer heels and perfectly applied make-up that accentuated her beauty.

‘You sure you’re OK with me going to work today? I’ve got a lieu day to take – I could stay home and we could have a day together, just the two of us.’

‘Go on, it’s fine.’

She searched my face.

‘Really?’

‘Really.’

‘It’s going to be OK, Joe.’

‘Is it?’

‘Yes,’ she said softly, her breath warm against my ear. The single word was quiet but emphatic, almost as if she was trying to convince herself as well as me.

I held her close, just for a few more seconds.

‘I hope you’re right.’

She broke off the embrace and picked up her briefcase.

‘Listen, I’ve got meetings this morning but how about I take a half-day’s leave this afternoon? I’ll be back in time to pick William up from school, so he doesn’t have to go to after-school club, and then we can have an early tea together. What do you think?’

‘Sounds good.’

‘Great. So what are you going to do this morning, babe?’

‘Sort things out,’ I said. ‘Did the police take your work iPad?’

‘No.’

‘Can I borrow it?’

She hesitated.

‘I’ve got meetings and things . . .’

‘Just for today? You’ve got your work iPhone for emails, right?’

‘I suppose.’

She shrugged and took the iPad out of her briefcase.

‘Thanks,’ I said, kissing her again. I kissed William and watched them walk down the drive to her car, my son’s small high voice cutting through the crisp autumn air.

‘Mummy?’

‘Yes?’

‘Is Daddy going to prison?’

Straight up, no deceit.

‘No, of course not, William.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes, I’m sure.’

‘But if he does go to prison, do we have to go with him?’

‘No, William. And Daddy’s not going to prison so you don’t have to worry about that.’

‘Jacob P. says Daddy’s a bad man.’

William climbed up into his car seat in the back of Mel’s VW Golf, and her response was lost to me as she bent to strap him in.

I stood on the doorstep for a long moment, arms crossed, watching Mel’s VW pull away. Then staring at the space by the kerb where her car had been. Jacob P. says Daddy’s a bad man. So the stories were spreading at William’s school as well. The old-fashioned rumour mill plus Facebook was a deadly combination.