‘Mum’s come to talk to you,’ says Connor. ‘She knows we’re going through a tough time and she wants to help.’

His mother nods her head then fixes her eyes on me. It feels odd to finally be in the same room as the elusive Jackie. I’ve been with her son for almost a year and have never once been invited to her house in Harrogate; nor has she ever come to see us at the flat, at least not while I was home. Now, here she is poring over my private documents. She might as well have seen me naked.

‘My son is very upset,’ she says. Her voice is sharp with a strong northern accent. ‘He’s been calling me almost every night in tears. Do you have anything to say? Any explanation?’

‘This is a private matter between me and Connor,’ I say, walking further into the room. ‘I don’t think it’s appropriate that he has brought you into it.’

‘I’m his mother,’ she cries, her nostrils flaring. ‘And he’s been going through hell for the last few months. He needs my support. Which is why I’ve travelled hundreds of miles to come and sort this out.’

‘And I appreciate that, Mum,’ says Connor, smiling meekly. ‘I really do.’

‘It’s not only what you did. It’s the secrecy,’ she says angrily, my appointment card gripped in her hand. ‘Just going off and doing it without telling Connor. It’s obscene.’

‘Mum, calm down,’ says Connor, placing his hand on her shoulder. ‘I’ve told you, this hasn’t been easy for either of us. Vanessa has suffered too.’

‘And so she should,’ says Jackie. ‘She killed your child. My grandchild.’

‘Mum, please,’ says Connor. ‘You have to understand, Vanessa’s been struggling, even before the abortion.’

He looks up at me.

‘Haven’t you, Vanessa? Be honest.’

‘This is insane,’ I say, my head pounding. ‘You have completely violated my privacy and now you’re trying to tell me how I feel?’

‘You know you haven’t been yourself for a long time,’ he says, his voice a sickening simper. ‘The drinking, the anger, the meltdowns.’

‘Meltdowns?’ I cry. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Well, it looks like you’re just about to have another one,’ says Jackie.

She clicks her tongue and, with that, the anger I have spent the last few minutes holding in comes tumbling forth.

‘Why don’t you tell her the truth?’ I cry, rushing at Connor. ‘Why don’t you tell her what really happened?’

His eyes flash angrily and he grabs my wrists.

‘You’re talking nonsense, Vanessa,’ he cries. ‘Now calm down.’