‘Or it might have been him? Yes indeed it might have been, Mrs Hunt. And well might we thank God. He moves in mysterious ways. Mrs Reader’s loss, your gain.’

The childminder tucked Katie’s money into the big pocket on the front of the apron she never took off.

Katie got annoyed. ‘Hardly, Mrs Chaney. I don’t think that was the deal. I’m sorry to hear about it. Please tell Estelle we’re thinking of her if you see her.’

Her attention was focused on Jess now, and she used it to change the subject. She didn’t want to discuss poor Joe Reader with this woman any more. ‘Hey. Is this a new man in Jess’s life?’

Elsie Chaney looked down at the two children. ‘That’s the Belling boy. You know.’

Katie didn’t know, but she knew she would be told. ‘No. I don’t believe I do. He looks a bit lost.’

‘The son of that man. You know.’

Katie still didn’t know.

Mrs Chaney sighed. ‘Put away. For abuse.’ She mouthed the words as if they were too foul to be spoken aloud.

Katie’s heart dropped down a rib or two in sympathy.

‘Oh. The poor darling.’

She leaned towards Katie.

‘Welfare pays his bills here. The mother can barely cope. Heartbreaking, though, to know it’ll all happen again.’

‘You’re kidding. You mean they’re letting the guy see the boy again?’

Elsie Chaney looked at Katie as if she were one of her children. ‘No no. He won’t be back. I mean when the boy grows up he’ll repeat the sins of the father.’

Katie looked open-mouthed at the innocent blue-eyed mite, now having one of his cardigan buttons sucked by her daughter. ‘You can’t say a wicked thing like that, Mrs Chaney. He’s a tiny child for heaven’s sake.’

Mrs Chaney was clearly irked by the accusation of being wicked. She straightened up, no longer keeping her tone soft. ‘Seems you don’t know your social psychology, Mrs Hunt. The abused always becomes the abuser. Text book.’

Katie held her gaze for a moment, itching to challenge her. But this was the only crèche that suited them. She couldn’t blow it. She bit her tongue and went to pick up her daughter.

The little boy backed away as she bent down to Jess. Katie looked into those frightened eyes and wanted to cry.

What had they seen?

‘It’s okay, pumpkin. I’m Jess’s Mom. Would you like a hug?’

He turned and ran. Jess shrieked in delight again.

Mrs Chaney looked triumphant. ‘Same time tomorrow, Mrs Hunt.’

Katie hesitated, still looking into the empty doorframe where the boy had stood. ‘Yes. Same time.’

Elsie Chaney went back into the cacophony of tiny voices, smoothing her apron as she went.