Suddenly the kicking stopped, and she dared to look up. There was an arm around Mark’s throat, and he was being hauled backward through the small gap that led from behind the counter into the café. Gingerly she stood up, holding her side, and saw Billy grappling with Mark.

‘Let’s see you go for me, hey?’ Billy taunted, letting Mark go, pushing the smaller man from him.

Mark, enraged, charged at Billy who punched him in the throat. Mark went down, gasping and spluttering, lying on the floor. He looked up at Vanessa as she came and stood next to Billy, laying a hand on Billy’s forearm. ‘That’s enough.’ She turned and practically spat at Mark. ‘I’m not scared of you anymore, don’t come around here otherwise I might not ask Billy to stop next time.’

Mark scrambled to his feet and took off out of the café, coughing, holding his throat.

‘How did you know I needed you?’ she asked in wonder.

‘Wren just had this feeling that I should come and pick you up. That boy is so in tune with you.’

‘Where are the boys?’ she said, panicking.

‘They’re with your dad, we can go pick them up now.’

As she stood wrapped in Billy’s arms, she whispered, ‘Move in with us. I want you around all the time. We’ve been heading in this direction for a long time, but I’ve been scared to trust, to love, but I’ve come to realize that you’re not Mark, you’re worth loving, you’re worth it Billy.’

‘OK, but what about us, Ness?

‘I think it’s time we told the kids that we’re seeing each other. We have been for a while now, we just never noticed.’ She smiled at his words and he hugged her hard. She released a small groan of pain. He looked at her face. ‘Let’s clean you up.’ He went and got some napkins, wetting them out the back then gently wiping her nose. ‘Can’t have you going home like that. Do you need to see a doctor?’

‘No need.’ She grabbed either side of her nose and pushed it back into place.

‘Shit! That must hurt,’ he said as the cartilage crunched home.

‘Used to it, I guess.’

Billy frowned but didn’t say anything.

11