Kenny says there were two people who came to the house on the day of the murder. Both fighting with Claire. Tom and Joyce. Both suspects are denying killing her. If only they had the weapon. Tom’s fingerprints will not be on that weapon. I know it, my husband might be a lot of things but he’s not a killer.

I lean my head back against the sofa, my eyes close softly, shutting off the world around me. This day is endless. The kids still have to be picked up yet. Tom and Kenny are down at the station being interviewed again. Maybe Kenny will remember something that will put this whole thing to rest.

An hour later, Cian and Aaron run through the hall door. Donna is behind them.

‘I know I wasn’t supposed to ring you, Donna, but I just couldn’t drive to pick them up, my nerves are shot and now Tom is down the station with Kenny and…’

‘My dear, sweet friend, never apologize for asking for help. Anyway, I got as much sleep as my body could handle. I’m better awake.’

The boys are playing on the floor in front of me when Aaron comes over to my side. He puts his hand on my face, trying to soothe me, comfort me. Aaron knows that something is wrong with me. Placing my hand on top of his I feel the heat of his kindness pass right through me. ‘Be okay, Mammy.’ He makes me want to cry. I wish Lorna and her early intervention could see this.

‘Mammy is going to be fine. Thank you, Aaron.’ I kiss him on the cheek, inhaling every last inch of his sweetness. ‘Mammy loves you.’

‘And me.’

‘And you, Cian.’

The night eventually arrives. When Amber is in her room and the boys in bed I sit on the sofa and open a bottle of wine. The more I let the situation fester in my mind, the less I understand it. Kenny has not been playing ball. Hopefully Angela Burke will go a bit harder on him tonight. Remove her gloves and question him in detail.

I think it strange that he did nothing when Joyce contacted him. It doesn’t add up. Especially when he went behind Claire’s back to contact Tom. Surely when Joyce told him Tom was his father and the DNA proved her right, surely then he would have believed her. Unless of course he didn’t want to. Didn’t want her in his life. Maybe Claire told him all sorts of stories about Joyce that scared him off wanting to know her. I hope he’s down there now telling Burke the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Our family has been put through enough. Kenny should know that, do what he can do to help.