Donny looked relieved. He needed a ciggie to calm himself down. After the shit had hit the fan with Dan he needed to sort his head out. If Susan got wind that he had a secret son she would pack her bags and leave him for sure. They’d discussed having a family when they first got together and agreed that they would try for kids, but not until they’d got where they wanted at work and were ready for it. Somehow that day had never come. He’d mentioned Bethany briefly years ago when they’d talked about exes and that but he never thought she’d be back in his life – let alone with a kid in tow. When he’d got caught out cheating before, the only thing that had made Susan stay was his word that he had no other skeletons in the closet.

Donny headed into the kitchen to have a go at Rita. ‘Can you make sure that this lot are only served up until half past twelve. I don’t care what they tell you, don’t give them anything after that because they are taking the piss.’

Rita stood with her hands on her hips. She didn’t get it. One minute he was making her come in early to do breakfast and saying never let a child go hungry and the next he was saying don’t feed them. He needed to make his bleeding mind up.

‘Donny, if a kid comes to me late, I feed them. They could have been late coming out of a lesson or something. I’m not to know, am I? And, if you remember, you’ve told me to make sure every child gets fed as it might be the only meal they eat all day.’ There you go, right back at you.

Donny couldn’t really argue with that. He felt like he was suffocating, needed some air. ‘Just shout me in future before you feed them late then.’

He walked out through the car park and off school grounds and stood sucking hard on a cigarette. He had to sort this mess out, but how?

Donny scrolled through his emails on his phone until he found the one with Dan’s new starter details. He couldn’t put this off. He copied the number into his contacts and hit dial, his hands shaking slightly. The person on the other end picked up and Donny swallowed hard.

‘Hello, Bethany, it’s me, Donny. I need to talk to you.’

There was silence at her end. Donny forced himself to continue.

‘Look, Dan barged into my office today and said that I’m his dad. That’s bang out of order. Why are you letting this kid throw these kinds of accusations around? And as for you, if you’re that sure he’s mine, why are you dropping this bombshell on me now after all these years?’