Cynthia looked at her daughter and felt the urge to shake her. What was it with this girl? She couldn’t see what was under her nose – she had bagged herself a blagger, and blaggers were not known for their homing instincts. She should think herself lucky she had a man out grafting for her – not that she was that enamoured of her daughter’s ‘partner’ as they called them nowadays. He looked down his nose at her, and did not bother to hide his indifference. Dislike she could cope with because it meant she’d made an impact at least. Indifference, on the other hand, meant she had not had any effect on the idiot in any way. He ignored her completely, which really pissed her off, and the fact that her daughter didn’t even defend her to him really annoyed her as well.

‘Any news on Nutty?’

Gabby rolled her eyes and said huffily, ‘Will you stop referring to James like that? They haven’t found him yet. God knows where he is by now.’

Cynthia snorted then. ‘Fucking Broadmoor is where he should be, locked away for good.’

‘He’s your son, Mum!’

Cynthia snorted again. ‘Stop fucking saying that, he’s nothing to do with me! Anyway, he’s over eighteen – he’s his own person now, responsible for his own actions.’

Gabby didn’t answer; it always amazed her that her mother could just push the blame away from herself without a second’s thought. She rubbed her belly – she was feeling awful today.

Seeing her daughter’s discomfort Cynthia said, ‘Get your stuff, Cherie, you’re coming home with Nanny.’ She held a finger up to her daughter in protest. ‘Not a word, you need your rest. Now, I’ve put a lasagne in the fridge, and I’ve got your ironing. So stop panicking and put your feet up.’

Gabby felt a rush of gratitude to this woman who she alternately loved and hated. Since Cynthia had seen how ill she had been with this baby she had been a diamond. She even talked about the baby as if she was looking forward to it, which Gabby thought she secretly was. Cynthia was buying little bits for it, and she had got out Cherie’s old cot, so she must be expecting the child to stay there on occasion.