‘One thing I will say before I shut me mouth. That man couldn’t live without you. Everything he wanted, he wanted for you. Seeing you dressed in the best, driving the best car, living in a beautiful home - it was for you alone. He told me that himself. He felt you deserved it all. He was only sorry you couldn’t have a child. It was the one thing he felt he couldn’t give you - a child. I know you’re not able to have babies, Georgio told me everything, and be fair, Donna, he never stepped away from you because of that, even though a child was what he wanted dearly. He accepted it as he accepted you, wholeheartedly. You were his wife for better or worse. He’s a Catholic, and although he might not be wearing a pathway to the church, he still believes in its values. If he can love you, why can’t you still love him, even knowing what you know now?’

It was the longest speech she had ever heard Paddy Donovon make. It was as if he was her father or an elder brother talking some sense into her. The mention of a child had hurt, it had hurt a lot. It was the one thing she had regretted all her married life, not being able to give Georgio a child. She felt once more that sensation of being second best, as she always did when reminded of her failure to produce a living, breathing child. She saw that Georgio had always tried to protect her, always. Had made a point of never mentioning children in any context. Maybe that’s why he didn’t tell her about Alan Cox’s children. Maybe he’d thought it would have broken her, as the knowledge was breaking her now. It was unfair for Paddy to say all this to her. It was grossly unfair, because she had no argument to give him in her own defence. As usual Georgio came out on top. He was the kind considerate man. He was always the kind considerate man. She felt the sting of tears again.

‘Why are you armed, and why are you hanging about my house?’ she shot at him.

Paddy sighed. ‘Because Lewis might try and get to Georgio through you, that’s why. If anything happened to you, I think Georgio would die, Donna. He told me that himself. I’m here as a little bit of insurance, nothing more. The chances are, Lewis wouldn’t dare come near you. But as you must understand, I wouldn’t be Georgio’s friend if I didn’t try and protect you.’

Donna looked at the water in the pool. The small ripples as the heater blew out warm water looked silver in the night-time light.

‘Is that why the car lot was destroyed - as a warning?’

‘Yes.’

‘Am I in danger, Paddy?’