No mother ever wants to explain to her child that on the night they met his father had shoved himself into her without asking, banged her head so hard that she’d needed it stitched and got her pregnant before her chips had gone cold. Even now she never referred to the incident as rape, not even in her own head. She couldn’t bear it. She’d always let Jeremy believe that his da had played nice at first, but the truth was that Maisie Bean never could tolerate Danny Fox. Maisie didn’t know much about men but it was clear to her that gentle giant Fred Brennan was a very different man from her husband.

She also knew that Jeremy was waiting for her to say she would tell Fred Brennan to go away, but the longer he waited the clearer her mind became. He’s a good man, a kind man. He’s not Danny. It’s just a night out, and I’m a grown woman, for God’s sake. Suddenly Maisie felt the knot in her stomach unfurl. She eyeballed her two kids.

‘I’m going out on a date with Fred Brennan tonight. Nothing bad is going to happen. I might even have a good time. No arguments.’ She watched Jeremy process the news. He craned his neck and pulled his left arm towards the floor with his right. He did this whenever he was stressed. When Bridie was well enough to notice her grandson’s idiosyncrasies she used to laugh and say it looked like he was trying to pull it off.

‘Right, then. I’m going for a run,’ he said eventually, bolting for the door.

‘What?’ Valerie punched her brother’s arm as he passed her. ‘Is that it?’

‘Jesus, Shortstuff, what do you want from me?’ he said, hands in the air, then turned away, walked out of the house and closed the door behind him, leaving Valerie and Maisie to face off.

‘Flintstone’s a plonker,’ Valerie grumbled.

‘You may not like me spending time with Fred but, Valerie Bean, if I ever hear you bad-mouth that man again, you can pack your bags!’ Maisie said, allowing her temper to get the better of her. It took her by surprise. It was the first time she had ever threatened to kick out her child. Immediately she felt guilty. She turned away from her startled daughter and started to put away the shopping.

‘I’m only twelve,’ Valerie mumbled, as she headed for the door.