She huffs, smiling to herself. Then leans over the table gripping the edge with both hands. ‘You think you can just come along now, into my life after all this time.’ Her voice fills the room with anger. ‘I never even got a “thank you”. I raised your son for sixteen years on my own. All those nights pacing the floors with your child in my arms when I should have been out, having my own life.’

Her words unsettle me, what is she saying?

‘He was your child too.’

Another smart chuckle before her eyes bore into mine. ‘You know nothing, Tom Cooper.’

‘I know what you did was wrong.’

‘I did my best for that boy, gave up my whole life for him and now the two of you show up and think you can replace me.’

Claire turns her back to me and walks over to the window. What does she mean the two of us? Sally has nothing to do with this.

‘I didn’t just show up. I was dragged into this.’

Silence. Claire looks out the window. I came here to make sure she stays away from Sally and my family. But now I realize she wants nothing to do with us.

‘Kenny came to me, remember,’ I say. ‘He wanted me in his life. You weren’t enough.’ The words hang between us. I should not have said that. Claire turns slowly, looks at a knife sitting on the table. This woman is mad, I better get out of here.

When I leave the house, she’s alive.

Kenny

They never told me who I was. They lied.

So it’s true. Joyce McCarthy is my birth mother. Sitting on the ground in the back garden below the window I hear everything. Words. Lots of words.

Mam didn’t even want me, it’s clear from what she said to her that I ruined Mam’s life. She had to stay in all the time to mind me. Maybe I should leave.

I’d like to live with my dad. Like a real family, brothers, a sister. I wonder what Amber’s mam is like. I could go to school from their house. Dad could bring me to my football matches and I could teach my two little brothers how to play. Everything would be great. And there’d be holidays. I’ve never been on a holiday. I wonder what their house is like? Amber said she’d sneak me in someday.

Lifting my head, I close my eyes and dream of what might be when I hear his voice. Dad is here. What’s going on? He’s fighting with Mam. This is not good.

Everyone is angry over me. Nobody wants me.