Hating that he couldn’t make this right for his kids, make their world safe again, Jason sighed heavily in turn and then shrugged out of his jacket and went straight to the lounge. Holly wasn’t in there, which meant that she was ensconced in her bedroom. She and Josh had both taken to hiding away lately, no doubt to avoid the hostile atmosphere.

Kneading his temples in weary frustration, Jason headed to the kitchen to grab a coffee. He hadn’t thought about what he would eat. He had no appetite. He flicked the kettle on and was reaching for the coffee when his gaze snagged on a pack of pills on the work surface. Curious, he picked up the box, his heart plummeting as he realised what they were: diazepam, Karla’s. Prescribed three days ago. Jesus. With nightmares constantly waking her, she hadn’t been sleeping well before this. She probably wasn’t sleeping at all now. Had she started them? Because if so, he was pretty sure she shouldn’t be drinking alcohol. Opening the box and seeing that she had, Jason pulled out the information leaflet. He was halfway through the side effects and warnings when Karla came in from the hall.

‘Mine, I think,’ she said, walking swiftly across to relieve him of them.

‘Karla…’ Jason blew out a sigh, as she about-faced and headed back out. ‘Look, I know you’ll think it’s none of my business, but should you be drinking while taking those things?’

‘You’re right. It’s not,’ Karla informed him, heading back through the hall to pick up her holdall, in which she stowed her ‘going-out gear’. She never got made-up and dressed to go out here, preferring to do it at her friend’s house, she said, rather than be scrutinised by a man who obviously hadn’t found her attractive in a long time. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Jason had always found her attractive, but there was no way to convince her of that. Not now.

‘Karla, don’t,’ he said, his voice tight. ‘Please don’t take those things and drink at the same time.’

‘I’ll do what I choose, Jason,’ she replied bluntly. ‘That seems to be the general attitude around here.’

‘For God’s…’ Jason’s jaw clenched with frustration. ‘You’re not supposed to take them with alcohol. It’s bloody dangerous! If you’re not worried about yourself, think of the kids. They’d be devastated if—’

Karla whirled back around. ‘Me think of the kids?’ She stared at him with a mixture of disbelief and fury and then laughed derisively. ‘Just piss off, Jason,’ she hissed, walking to the front door. ‘Do what you like with who you like. As I’ve no doubt you already are.’