Clare slammed the front door shut and stood with her back against it for a few moments before she followed him, catching a whiff of cheap aftershave. He must have used half a bottle of the stuff. She could taste it in the back of her throat. She took a deep breath before going back into the living room. She wanted to keep a close eye on him. He was a thieving bastard, and leopards never change their spots.

Kevin had sat next to his son and they were sharing a moment. Ged was in his dad’s arms, she could see he was emotional. Kevin’s words sounded heartfelt but she knew him well enough not to believe him. He must have heard them in a film or read them in a book because they definitely didn’t come from him.

‘I’m here now, son. Nothing will ever hurt you again, I promise you. I won’t let it.’

Clare rolled her eyes, she was immune to his bullshit. They were just words, and action spoke far louder than words in her book. But here he was, playing Father of the Year. You can’t pull the wool over my eyes, mate, she thought. She could see right through his act.

Clare steadied herself, this had been a long time coming and she knew she had to keep her cool, play nice for her son’s sake.

‘Kevin, do you want a drink or anything?’ See, she could be polite and calm when she wanted to.

Kevin lifted his head away from Ged and nodded. ‘Can I have a coffee, nice and milky, you remember how I like it don’t you?’

‘No, I don’t,’ she snapped.

He chuckled. ‘Two sugars and plenty of milk, babes.’

Oh my God, was he still calling her that? She hadn’t been his babe for years so he could cut that shit out right now. What a cheeky bastard, thinking he could just waltz back into her life and talk to her like they’d never been apart. Clare moved towards the kitchen as Kevin sat back in the chair still holding his son’s hand – the hand he’d held to help him up when he’d fallen, the hand that held him tightly when he was afraid of the dark as a small boy, and the same hand that he’d shaken when he’d come to see him. Kevin’s eyes were flooded with tears. His emotions were clearly sky-high and he was struggling to hold it together. Prison could do that to a man, Clare supposed, it could break them down and leave them bare. She turned away, glad to leave them to it.