‘I spoke to him on the phone and asked him straight if he was. He said he’d been stupid and kissed another woman, but I could tell it was more than that. I’m not an idiot, Jane. Pam wouldn’t take Nathan if it was just a silly kiss, and I know she always confides in you.’

‘If they want to tell you what it’s all about, that’s up to them – not me.’

Nathan was waking up and starting to grimace. Jane used her shoulder to hold the phone against her ear and turned Nathan slightly on his side. She supported him with one hand and gently rubbed his back with the other, which relaxed him and made him gurgle.

‘I asked Tony if he’d called you and he said he didn’t want to bother you late at night, which seems a bit strange. I would have thought you’d be the first person he would call if he was so worried about Pam and Nathan.’

‘He’s probably not thinking straight. I’ll call him in a minute and tell him Pam and Nathan are with me.’

‘Why didn’t you call him when she first got there?’

‘Because I thought she’d told him she was going to see me.’ Suddenly the penny dropped. ‘Are you seriously thinking I might be the “other woman”?’

He was slow to answer. ‘No, but I feel you’re hiding something.’

She knew he was suspicious because of the relationship she’d had with a married officer.

Jane sighed. ‘For Christ’s sake, this is all getting out of hand. I haven’t got the time or inclination to explain everything to you tonight, Dad – but let me assure you I’m not having an affair with Tony.’

‘What are you doing with my baby?’ Pam snapped as she entered the bedroom.

‘I thought you said Pam was asleep,’ her father said on hearing her voice.

‘Give him to me.’

Pam snatched Nathan from the bed, making him wail.

‘Be careful, Pam.’

‘Don’t you tell me how to look after my baby!’ she shouted, walking off into the living room.

‘What’s going on, Jane?’ her father asked, hearing Pam’s distress.

‘Everything’s fine—’

‘No, it’s not. Your mother and I are on our way over.’

‘You’ll make matters worse, so stay at home and let me deal with this. Call Tony and tell him Pam and Nathan are fine and with me,’ she said bluntly, then put the phone down and went to the living room.

Pam was crying and kneeling on the floor, holding a distressed Nathan, who was still wailing. As she rocked back and forth to comfort him, Jane knelt beside Pam and put her arm around her.

‘Everything will be all right, Pam. Come and sit on the sofa with me.’ She helped her sister up. ‘Have you got any milk for Nathan?’