‘Yep, she’s right, Ged, I did let her down. But I’ve had a lot of time to think while I’ve been in jail. You realise when you are behind your door on your own each night who and what matters in your life. I’ve cried tears, I can tell you, so many regrets too. I messed up and I know that now. You two were all that mattered to me and I should have realised that back then.’

A tear started to roll down his cheek and Clare leant towards him a little to see if it was real. He was putting it on, surely. This man never cried, ever.

Ged reached over and took his dad’s large hand in his own. ‘Don’t get upset, Dad. We can do this together, I’m here to help you.’

‘Thanks, Son, but I can’t depend on you to sort me out. I have to do that myself. Clare…’ He paused and lifted his eyes up to look at her. ‘I know you don’t like me anymore and I can’t say I blame you, but you have never left my thoughts, every minute of every day. All that I’ve thought about is you, us. I still love you.’

There was an awkward silence. This was not what Clare had expected.

Kevin kicked himself. Bleeding hell, what was he doing dropping the love bomb the minute he’d got out of the nick? He should have just played it by ear and seen how the land lay before he jumped in. Too much, too soon.

Ged was loving it though, smiling like his heart was melting. Maybe his parents could rekindle their love and they could be a happy family again. That’s all he’d ever wanted, not loads of money or designer clothes, just his family together. Was it so much to ask?

But then there was this Sam bloke on the scene now with his mum – he needed to get out of the picture sharpish if these two were going to have a hope.

Clare stood firm, even though she could see what was going through her son’s head. No. No way was Kevin playing the sympathy card to get back in her knickers. She had to shut him down.

‘Whoa, Ged, let’s get one thing straight. Me and your dad are over, done. He can have a relationship with you but as for me and him, don’t even go there. That ship sailed a long time ago. I’ve moved on.’

Kevin tensed like someone had stabbed him deep in his heart. ‘Fucking hell, Clare, kick a man while he is down, why don’t you?’