His expression is complex; there’s so much anger, but it also looks like he is going to be sick. Evan didn’t trust him at dinner, and he still doesn’t trust him now. ‘I told you it’s complicated, Evan. You might not understand, maybe you never will, but he’s been manipulating me. He’s a con artist and he’s trying to ruin our family.’ He is shaking his head subtly but I press on. ‘He was seeing me at the clinic. He was seeing me for weeks before I knew he was your sister’s boyfriend.’

‘Why didn’t you say anything, if any of this is true? Why did you just sit there at dinner?’

‘Because he might be dangerous, Evan. Because I was scared. I don’t know, I wanted to talk to your father about it before telling you kids, especially your sister, and I knew if I didn’t play along, he’d do something to hurt us.’ I pause, reading his expression. ‘That photo proves I breached protocol in meeting him outside of the clinic. He can ruin my career. He convinced you he was your friend online then turned your clan against you. You know what he’s like.’

I almost miss it, the doubt that flashes across his face before the anger returns. ‘You can’t deny it, Mum. Stop making excuses. Look at that, you’re all over him.’

I step closer and read the caption. Your mum is a slut.

Now it’s my turn to be angry. Cormac has gone too far. There’s another voice in the room and when I hear it, I draw a sharp breath and squeeze my hands into fists.

‘What is it?’

Gabe is standing at the door. There’s no use lying or trying to hide it. I turn and watch his eyes move to the monitor. A moment of recognition. The anger explodes inside of me, spreading like a mushroom cloud up from my stomach to my chest, my head, my arms. It freezes my jaw, I can barely squeeze out a word. ‘No,’ I say. ‘No, Gabe, let me explain.’

Gabe simply turns away and walks up the hall back to our bedroom. He never liked to fight in front of the kids. But he saw the photo, and now there are three spot-fires burning in the house. I don’t know which one to put out first. Cormac did this, I think. This is his plan.

I rest my hand on Evan’s shoulder for a moment. ‘Go to bed, son,’ I say. ‘We will have plenty of answers for you in the morning.’

Gabe is waiting for me. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed, his face in his hands.

‘Tell me everything now.’

‘It’s not what you think,’ I say. ‘That was Hudson in the photo.’