The next six months seemed to go by quickly. Vanessa couldn’t have been happier with the house, her boys and her freedom, but she kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. For Mark to drag her kicking and screaming back to their old house. There was just no way he was going to let them go without a fight. She knew he’d want revenge.

Wren was happier than he had ever been. He stopped jumping at loud noises and she hoped eventually the haunted look would leave his eyes. He would go around every morning and every night to check the doors and the window locks. He was vigilant about safety and protecting his family. But Vanessa knew that if Mark wanted in, then Mark would get in. She kept her cellphone in her pocket at all times and had a landline installed, with a second handset in the baby’s room, which also had a lock on the door – a good one – installed by Billy. Alongside this, Vanessa had put an old milk crate outside the window, resting on the ground, so Wren could get out of the window if need be. The screen popped off easily and noiselessly. She also kept a baby carrier hanging in the wardrobe in case her boys had to leave in a hurry and run to Billy’s. He hid a spare key for Wren in case of an emergency and they’d drilled what to do. You could never be too careful. It was sad that she had to do all of this, but she would protect her children at all costs.