But what would that do to her boys? Tim had already left at her demand and was in shock, disgusted at finding out what his father was. She had to make sure Nick was not affected by any of it. He’d been blissfully unaware of any of the events leading to this moment – thankfully he’d been having a sleepover that night. She had to keep it that way because how could she let him grow up knowing his father was a killer and that his mother, in turn, had killed him? It wasn’t an option.

So, she’d planned how she could get rid of Bern, protect her sons and carry on her life without ever telling a soul. She cleaned the house, got rid of anything with blood splatters – even her beloved picture of the boy and the kitten that had broken when Bern’s head made contact with it. She did what she believed to be a thorough job. Burying Bern had been the most difficult – the sheer strength and determination that she was doing what needed to be done to protect her and her boys was enough in the end. She’d done Stockwood a favour getting rid of a monster.

Barb took it upon herself to cover it all up, but Tim eventually figured out what had really happened to his father that night – it didn’t take a genius given the scene he’d left behind. Barb and Tim decided how they should play it. Tim would stay away, be classed as a runaway: a missing person – and Barb would tell everyone that Bern, distraught at his son’s disappearance, left to search for his son – taking him abroad in the process. Barb wrote letters, faking Bern’s handwriting, to his employers, giving his immediate notice, citing his current family circumstances as a reason he’d not be returning. He had kept himself to himself – he had no work friends. No one missed him. She’d even forged his signature on any legal documents, including those for the sale of the house to Nick and Amber.

Officially, Bern Miller is still alive. His heart attack a cover story.

Nick had been placated by his mother’s stories over the years and had no reason to question them. It was only Patrick who would ever come looking. But Patrick had been so keen to leave, keep himself out of the horror, that he hadn’t been a problem. Until he found out his illness was terminal, and felt compelled to unburden himself.

And of course, then the developers came into the picture. An unforeseen event that threatened everything.