Lottie climbed into her mother’s double bed, pulling the quilt high, hiding from the world, not wanting to see Megan leave the room. ‘Can I sleep in your bed all night, Mummy?’

Megan forced an unlikely smile, nodding twice, her blue eyes flickering like a faulty bulb, tears flowing despite a determined desire to remain stoic in times of adversity. ‘Of course you can. I’ll tell Daddy to go back to his flat and then we can cuddle up together. Now, close your eyes, ignore the silly noise and think nice thoughts. We can go swimming together tomorrow, at the pool, just you and me. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? And maybe we’ll call to see Granny on our way home. You can feed the fish in the pond.’

‘And the frogs?’

Megan relaxed slightly, full of hope as the banging stopped. She stood and listened, clutching her stomach, rocking in one place. Had the fool finally given up on the hope of a response?

Megan placed the palms of her hands together in front of her at shoulder level, fingers pointed upwards. Please, God, let it be so.

But, no. Bang! There it was again. Bang! Megan swallowed hard, a twitchy feeling in her extremities. ‘Yes, Lottie, we mustn’t forget the frogs. We like the frogs. Now, close your eyes and put your hands over your ears. I’m going to send Daddy on his way. That’s it, hold them tight, as I showed you, like the last time. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.’

The little girl opened her eyes wide. ‘Where’s Teddy?’

Megan crossed the room, looking back, speaking as calmly as possible, desperately attempting to introduce a semblance of normality to a situation that had become all too familiar in recent weeks. ‘I left him in your room. That was silly of me. I’ll bring him with me when I come back, promise. Now, hold your hands over your ears like I told you and close your eyes tight shut. That’s it, perfect, what a good girl you are. I’ll be back before you know it.’

‘Will you leave the light on?’

‘Yes, I’ll leave the light on.’

Lottie was entirely hidden under the quilt when Megan left the room a few seconds later, closing the door behind her. Megan wanted to stay to comfort her daughter. She so wanted to hold Lottie close and whisper sweet words of reassurance into her ear, but what would that achieve? Her idiot ex-husband was still out there, banging, banging, banging, and no doubt getting angrier and more frustrated. It was always the same. His misplaced sense of entitlement, the indignant rage that seemed to define him. Just like the last time. Just like every time. For the briefest of seconds, Megan considered running down the stairs, opening the front door and telling Dale exactly what she thought of him in unambiguous language even he couldn’t fail to understand. But she changed her mind at the very last second. What would be the point? The man was drunk and very likely beyond rational thought. Her words would be wasted.