Bethany had clearly been waiting for this call and had plenty to say. Donny was having none of it.

‘You listen to me, Bethany. Do you think you can just walk into my life and destroy everything I’ve worked for? It’s not happening. I’ll destroy the pair of you if you don’t back off. Two choices. Come and meet me tonight after school and we sort it out. Otherwise we can go down another road and, trust me, if we go there, you’ll wish you never started this.’

Bethany was shouting down the phone now.

Donny hung up and stood looking up at the sky. What a mess, his life was coming apart at the seams. He needed someone to take away the sickness that he felt in the pit of his stomach. There was only one person who could fix him when he felt like this. He rang his wife.

‘Hi babe, no, just wanted to hear your voice. I’ve got a meeting after work tonight and I’ll be late but I just wanted to talk to you now.’

They chatted for a few minutes but he was choked up by the time he ended the call. He couldn’t play the part of the tough guy like normal, but he didn’t want her to hear he was upset. He needed to feel like he was the good man she thought she’d married. It really was like being trapped in a bad dream. Donny let out a growl and braced himself against the brick wall at his side. He had to man up. No one messed with him and got away with it. He’d sort this out, he’d make this problem go away. One way or another he’d put an end to this.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Clare opened the front door. Kevin was leaning against the wall. She hated this man with a passion. Her husband. Looking at him, stood there, like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, she didn’t feel even a flicker of warmth for him. Instead, anger bubbled inside her. How dare he smile at her after all the heartache he’d caused her? Clare studied him. He looked thin, frail. Was this really the man she’d loved with all her heart, the father of her child? He looked older, grey, haggard. Just hearing his voice sent shivers down her spine.

‘Are you going to invite me in then or what?’ He was still a cheeky fucker then, still full of himself.

Clare spoke through clenched teeth. ‘Ged’s in the front room.’

He brushed past her, not looking back. ‘I know where it is, I don’t need a guided tour.’