Izzy looks at her father one last time, her little face stiffening with concern and sympathy for her thwarted father. But her dad isn’t looking at her any more; he’s staring at the back of her mum’s head instead, as if he is calling upon every last reserve to quell his temper. Only when he notices Izzy’s scrutiny does his expression transform into a reassuring smile. He winks.

28

Upon the kitchen counter, Jess’s phone trills and grinds out vibrations. Again.

Jess picks it up, only to mute the handset before deactivating it and tossing it aside. She turns off the overhead lights, pads to the window and gently parts the blinds at one side.

In the street outside the block, Tony’s car is parked at the kerb. Through the railings and through the windscreen, he’s just visible with one arm raised, holding a phone against his ear.

Jess drops the blinds and swivels to rest her back against the nearest wall. In the darkened kitchen she slides down the wall until she’s sitting, gripping ankles pulled tight against the back of her thighs. She wipes at the trickles glimmering on her cheeks. As a long sigh escapes between her disfigured lips, she checks her watch and struggles to her feet and heads out of the kitchen.

In her daughter’s bedroom down the hall, Jess finds Izzy standing by the bed, only half dressed and preoccupied with the new toy. Neatly folded pyjamas lie undisturbed on the duvet.

The sight of Izzy coveting the gift from Tony blanches Jess with an anger she barely manages to suppress. ‘You ain’t done your teeth. Nothing. You ain’t ready for bed like I asked you.’

‘I am!’

‘Don’t look like it. Where’s your jams?’

‘I will.’

‘Will what? You ain’t even listening. Put that down and get changed. Come on. Now. Ain’t tellin’ you again.’ Jess bends over and starts picking discarded clothes off the floor. ‘I need to say something. About your dad. He knows he’s not supposed to be here, or up your school. You know that.’

‘Cus he’s angry. Not with me.’

The last statement slips out quietly enough to pass for sly and Jess bristles. ‘Never mind back-chat. You just say hello if you see him, but you don’t go anywhere with him. Never. Nowhere. You hear?’

Izzy doesn’t turn her head or react. Still reluctant to get ready for bed, she leaves the room and heads for the bathroom.