Donna sucked deeply on her cigarette and said, ‘Once the jump’s over with, you’re going to be moved to the North of England. You’ll be overnight in Liverpool, and then moved on to Scotland. There’s a safe house there if we need it, but we’re hoping you can be out of the country within thirty-six hours. You’re going to Southern Ireland from there, and then on to wherever you want to go. I told Alan it would be somewhere hot.’

Georgio grinned at her, his handsome face shining in anticipation.

‘You know me so well, darlin’, and now you also know me secret. Me and you will be off to Sri Lanka. After this dump I could do with a bit of currant bun.’

Donna nodded. ‘Well, you don’t have to make up your mind just yet, there’s provision for up to six weeks in Eire. You’re to be kept on a smallholding, and it’s as safe as houses according to Eric and Alan.’ She smiled once more. ‘Then we can make up our minds where we’re going. After all, I’ve got to live there too, haven’t I?’

Georgio nodded. ‘Anything you want, Donna, you’ve got.’ He grasped her small hand in his and kissed the long cool fingers. ‘I can’t wait to get out and give you something I’ve been dreaming about for months, girl.’

He leered at her and Donna felt once more the old longings and stirrings he always created inside her when he touched her. But something had happened to them, and although Donna felt she had won something, she also had a terrible feeling she had lost something as well.

Donna dropped Caroline, Micky and ’Vonne outside their block of flats and helped Caroline inside with the pushchair and the carrier bags. Inside the flat Donna put the kettle on and made the coffee while Caroline settled the children in front of the TV.

‘So how’s everything really?’

Caroline asked the question she always asked when ’Vonne was out of earshot. Chivonne, like most little girls, could repeat back a conversation word for word and it was best not to say too much in front of her.

Donna shrugged. ‘The same. Can I ask you something, Caroline? Do you think you’ve changed at all, since Wayne’s been away? Do you feel any different at all?’

Caroline sipped her coffee, her peachy young face breaking into a smile.

‘I’ll say! When he gets home here, things are going to be different. I have had to sort meself out for so long, I don’t think I could handle him coming in here like the big I Am and taking it all over. I even like sleeping on me own now. I hated it at first, but now I like to stretch out in the bed and really relax.’

Donna laughed with her.