He choked up at the sight of her, couldn’t get his words out properly. ‘I’ll sort this, Susan. I bet the kid isn’t mine, you have to believe me.’

Not a word. Susan just looked at him coldly before she turned and walked out of the house. The walls shook as she slammed the door behind her. Donny screamed out like a wounded animal. This was his perfect life, how dare anyone come along and try to spoil it? He sat for a few minutes before wiping his eyes and picking up his car keys. He needed out of here, he needed to sort this mess out as soon as possible. Heads were going to roll, he’d make sure of it.

Donny marched into the boozer and headed straight to the bar. He needed a stiff drink, something to take the edge off his nerves. He called over to the barmaid, ‘Double brandy,’ before slouching against the bar as if his legs were going to collapse. As he paid for his drink, he heard someone calling his name and twisted round quickly. For crying out loud, this was all he needed.

‘Donny, come and join us, I’ll budge up, you can sit here.’ Mel was sat with Tina. How could he tell his work colleagues to piss off, he wanted to be alone? He sighed and walked slowly over to join them.

‘Bloody hell, Donny, you look like I feel,’ Tina chuckled. ‘Did you get everything sorted out today?’

‘Yeah, all sorted. Anyway, what are you two doing in here on a school night?’ He tried to sound his usual confident self but he could hear how hollow his words seemed.

Tina sighed. ‘Domestic. I might as well tell you, I’m leaving Chris.’ Donny was shocked. Bleeding hell, it was all going on here, wasn’t it? Mel wasn’t going to be left out of the conversation. ‘And I have an ex that, won’t take no for an answer. But, aye, you knew that, didn’t you?’ Tina followed Mel’s eyes to Donny, clearly surprised that these two had been having conversations about their private lives.

Donny ignored Melanie and took a large swig of his drink. ‘Are you alright, Tina? That’s a big thing to do. Chris is a good guy, are you sure you’re doing the right thing?’

Tina sat forward in her seat; it was clear she’d already had a few beers down her neck. ‘Donny, you don’t know the half of it. I have his kids disrespecting me all day and all he does is lie on the sofa and tell me to ignore them. His ex is back on the scene and they all think the sun shines out of her arse. I’ve had enough. I gave him chance after chance to sort it out and he’s done fuck all.’