Without even glancing behind to see if Tom has followed me I drive out of the car park. Amber is at home now minding Cian and Aaron again. Was it her idea not to tell me? Or did Tom put her under pressure? If he did that, then Amber must be so confused. I need to talk to her, find out when and where she met Kenny and tell her she was wrong to hide it from me. But that doesn’t add up. I’m missing something. Amber would not do that. I need to talk to her. Now.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Fifteen minutes later, I’m sitting in the car outside my house with my nerves pushing the boundaries of my breaking point. Tom has sent me a text.

I didn’t know Amber met Kenny.

If Tom wasn’t aware that Amber had met Kenny, that means the sweet little Kenny chap with the salty tears and quivering lip contacted Amber behind Tom’s back. I was right. I didn’t trust him from the minute I saw him. Hitting the dial button I wait for Tom to answer.

‘Jesus, Tom. What the fuck is going on?’

‘Sally, I swear to you I did not know Kenny contacted Amber.’ His voice is trembling on the far end.

‘I believe you, Tom, but what does this all mean, how long has Amber known?’

‘That’s the thing, Sal. She doesn’t know… I questioned Kenny and he said he contacted her on Facebook and met with her and her pals but he never told her who he was.’

‘The little shit, I’m damned if he’s coming anywhere near this house now.’

Tom falls silent at the far end of the phone.

‘He’s been stalking Amber, Tom, you can tell that to the social worker. She’s asking us to take a stalker in to live with us.’

‘Sal, relax for a minute, he’s just a kid, he was curious, I’d hardly call it stalking.’ Blood boils through my veins, hot enough to melt metal. Is this man for real? That young fella has lured Amber to meet him under false pretences, God knows what he told her.

‘Tom, you do what you want. I’m going to tell Amber.’

When the door opens, Amber is standing in the hallway waiting for all the news.

‘Well, what’s he like?’ Amber says the minute I step inside.

Amber was aware I was going to meet Kenny today and wanted to come along protesting when I told her she couldn’t. I wonder what she’ll say when I tell her she’s already met him.

‘I’ll tell you in a minute. Where are the boys?’

‘They’re in the playroom, what’s he like… did you get my McDonald’s?’

Shit, I was supposed to bring Amber and the boys back a takeaway but I completely forgot about it. Maybe Tom will have remembered.