He had cooked them both eggs and bacon and, as he poured them both mugs of strong tea, he wished once more that his wife was there with him. He knew what she would say if she was – she would tell him to be himself. Lena had always believed that he was a good man at heart.

‘I’m not that hungry, Dad. I’m sorry.’

He smiled gently. She was a lovely girl, and he knew she had the same capability for love as her mother had. She needed him to be patient with her. ‘Just have a few bites, eh? For me, for your old dad.’

Tania knew this was unfamiliar territory for her dad and appreciated that he was trying. It proved that he loved her, and she needed to feel loved now more than ever before in her life. Her mum had always enveloped her in love and kindness; she had guided her, advised her, stood beside her. What would her mum think of her now? She was so ashamed of what had happened with Petey. It was as if losing her virginity had somehow opened her eyes to the brutal truths of the world. She had been used, she knew that now – he had seen his opportunity, and he had taken it.

She was utterly ashamed at how easily she had allowed it to happen; in fact, she had instigated the whole incident – that was the worst part. She had orchestrated her own downfall, and given him something of which he was not worthy – that was clear. She was his cousin, and he was old enough to be her father. Petey should have known that she was hurting over her mother’s death – he should have held her, comforted her, and made sure she was safe. But instead he had taken advantage of her youth and vulnerability. She had been no more than another conquest and this knowledge was destroying her.

God knew, she had heard the boys talk about Petey over the years – what a womaniser he was, how he was known to dog a girl until she gave him what he wanted, how he would then lose interest in them. She had heard them talk about Bernadette O’Toole – even her mum and her Auntie Ria had said her only advantage was that she wouldn’t sleep with him without the benefit of Holy Matrimony. Yet, despite knowing all this, she had still harboured her childish illusions and refused to believe anything bad about him.