With the phone in my hand I decide to ring one of Tom’s golf buddy’s wife. Sinead, I like her. I’ll ask her if she heard anything about the lad’s car breaking down. Tell her Tom went to help and hasn’t been back since. My finger is swiping through my contacts when Amber comes thundering down the stairs.

‘I have to go, Mom.’

Before I know it she’s out the hall door.

‘What the hell?’ I rush out after her. ‘Where are you going? Get back here now.’

‘I’m going to Sarah’s, she needs me, I have to go now.’

‘I need you,’ I shout but she’s already halfway down the road.

Sarah, Amber’s friend, thrives on drama and Amber thrives on consoling her. Not a good mix, if you ask me. But there’s nothing I can do about it. According to Amber I should have more sympathy for her. I don’t. There are too many kids starving in the world for me to lose sleep if Sarah only manages silver when she was expecting gold at the Irish World Dancing Championship. Or if her boyfriend misspelled her name on her birthday card. I admire Amber’s caring and comforting nature, even if it is only for her peers. But I think Sarah takes advantage of her.

Before making the call to Sinead, I check in on Cian and Aaron who are still mesmerized by the amount of new toys they have. Hopefully it won’t be long now before the day catches up with them and I can take them to bed.

‘Where’s Daddy?’ Cian says, looking up from a plastic fire engine he pushes across the floor. Aaron looks up too.

‘He should be here shortly. His friend’s car broke down.’

‘But he didn’t get any cake,’ Cian says.

‘He can have some when he gets back.’ Their little faces stare at me for answers, waiting for me to say something they understand. Why was their daddy not at their party?

‘Wow, you got loads of toys!’ Immediately I move their attention back to the pile of presents surrounding them. Aaron is handing me a green tractor which I smile at and admire. Cian jumps to his feet.

‘He’s here, he’s here. Daddy’s home.’

Cian rushes past to where Tom is arriving at my back.

‘Daddy, Daddy.’

Aaron doesn’t move from his spot, lifting a toy and holding it out for his daddy to see. I want to take the green tractor in my hand and smash it on Tom’s head. But when I turn around, the face I see is completely altered to the one I left behind this morning. Ashen, the haunted expression making it clear that he wasn’t on the golf course. I take a deep breath and brace myself for what I’m about to hear.

Chapter Nine