And the thing is, he knows that Mary is not a bad person. When she came here to the farm, she would have been a total mess after what had happened to Charlotte. Her head would have been all over the place, her emotions in turmoil. And despite what she’s done, he can’t help feeling a degree of sympathy for her.

He suddenly knows what he has to do. The survival instinct has kicked in.

He helps Mary to her feet, still holding the baby, and says, ‘I want you to go out to the car and wait for me. Take Megan with you.’

‘What about Simon?’ his wife says.

‘I’ll deal with him. We can’t let him live. He’ll destroy our lives.’

Mary doesn’t argue. As she rushes towards the door Robert tightens his grip on the shotgun and heads for the stairs.

But just then he hears Simon enter the cellar from inside the house.

‘What’s going on down here?’ he calls out. ‘Am I missing all the fun?’

Robert feels his mouth open but he says nothing. Instead, he steps to one side and waits for Simon to come to him.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

CHRISTMAS EVE

When Mary finally stops talking, Charlotte – Megan – is in a state of total shock.

She’s listened to the horrific story without moving a muscle, as though her entire body has been filled with cement.

Robert is tempted to cross the room and take her in his arms, but he knows she won’t welcome it. Not now that she’s been told he murdered her real father.

A wave of impotent rage sweeps through him and at the same time a knife of guilt twists in his stomach.

His wife has completely lost the plot, just as she did twenty-four years ago. And once again she’s caused untold damage.

The silence lasts for only a matter of seconds before she starts ranting again, and it’s as though every word out of her mouth makes the burden she’s carried for all these years that much lighter.