‘Six months?’ Nick’s heart stopped beating. ‘But I’ve got a son. I can’t go to prison. And I run my own business. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid. I’d lose everything.’

The heat of embarrassment that had warmed his face fell away to be replaced by a chill down his spine. This couldn’t happen. He’d done nothing wrong.

‘We’ll talk to the witnesses and to Mr Cole again, but it would be easier for everyone if you could apologise and get him to drop the charges.’

‘Apologise?’ The word left a bitter taste in his mouth. Not because he didn’t like apologising. He’d happily apologise if he’d done something wrong, but he hadn’t done anything except for stand up for his boy. Why should he be the one to apologise? But he didn’t say so to the two policemen standing in front of him. Instead, he nodded his understanding and they left. Once they’d climbed back into their car, Freddie and Bella came over.

‘What was that, Daddy? What did the policemen want? Are you in trouble?’

The fear etched on his son’s face made him sick to his stomach. What would happen to him if he ended up in jail for six months? Who would Freddie live with? His mum and dad would take him in, but Nick didn’t want to scupper their plans. They always went to Spain in the new year and didn’t come back till spring. For some reason his mind went to Bella and the type of mother she’d be. She’d be perfect for him – for Freddie – he corrected himself. An attraction he hadn’t felt in a long time inched inside. Like the door to his heart had opened a fraction and something had snuck in or escaped out, he wasn’t quite sure which.

‘It was nothing, son. They just had a few questions about something.’

‘Is it to do with work?’

‘Yes, mate. Nothing for you to worry about.’ He ruffled his son’s hair and Freddie went back off to play.

‘Was it about Mr Cole?’ Bella asked. ‘The … altercation you had?’

Nick ran his foot through the leaves spread on the ground around his feet. ‘I don’t know what you saw, Bella, but I promise you, I didn’t do anything except push him away when he got in my face. No matter what he might say, I didn’t hit him, I didn’t threaten him. I was trying to walk away when he pulled me back and—’