This is no mellow autumn day, all golden light and tumbling leaves. No, the weather is biblical: the universe has provided the perfect backdrop for their sins. Rain and sleet slice the sky, the odd flash of lightning sending the satisfyingly large gaggle of journalists scuttling for cover. Patience, I think, the voluminous hood of my olive mac giving me all the cover I need. I wipe droplets from the glasses that I don’t strictly need, and as my vision clears, they’re pushing their way through the courtroom doors and starting down the steps. My heart starts to thump in my chest. What is it? Fear or excitement? I think, most of all, it’s pride.

The size of the crowd momentarily shocks them: Nick grabs desperately for Lily’s hand, his own shaking. Only someone with my gifts would discern these tiny tells. Now Lily begins to speak over the shouting, jostling crowd.

‘We’re not doing this for us,’ she says self-righteously, the rain soaking her pale pink skirt suit into soggy darkness. ‘We’re doing this for every other vulnerable family who might be preyed on by an, an…’

It takes all my strength not to fight through the throng and set her straight. But then I remember, fastening my hood a little more tightly, that this is the most powerful place for me to be.

‘… unscrupulous therapist,’ she continues, swallowing something far more vicious. Sticks and stones, I think. ‘These people ruin lives! We need stronger regulations to stop them tearing other families apart the way…’ She falters now, her gaze briefly turned upwards towards the slate grey sky. She doesn’t even pretend to look to her useless husband for comfort. ‘… the way that ours has been,’ she says, her final words quietly stuttered out, the energy visibly draining away. They’re neutered, diminished. I did that.

Journalists are shouting questions at them now, calling from left and right. A groomed blonde woman holding a microphone steps in front of the fray.

‘But you were involved with Amber Greville’s daughter? Can you speak to that? She was your children’s nanny?’

Now Nick wakes up, lurching forward furiously like a sad, old drunk. Again, I have to consciously root myself to the spot, so strong is my desire to hurt him. Esther will come back to me, I can feel it. She just needs more time to appreciate that my whole battle was devoted to her healing. Love can be fierce – a mother’s most of all. In time she’ll understand that I still won, even if the spoils weren’t quite what we’d looked forward to.

‘That’s not relevant to this case,’ Nick shouts, a finger jabbing towards the blonde. ‘Amber Greville tried to embezzle money from us. She gave our daughter the plan that bankrupted us. This is a civil case, related to that. Check your facts.’