Donny had agreed that they would all meet in a park near the school. Get it all settled once and for all. A huge tree hung over the bench where he sat now, leaves fluttering in the breeze. It was a beautiful tree, romantic even. He let himself dream that one day soon he would bring his wife here again and they could have a picnic together, just the two of them. He spotted a figure walking down the hill towards him. His jaw tensed.

They’d arranged that Bethany would bring the letter here for him to open. That way he would be the first to receive the news and he could be sure no one had meddled with the envelope. Bethany was full of herself, as ever. She looked rough – hair scraped back in a ponytail, baggy tracksuit bottoms and battered trainers. She was the opposite of Susan, he thought. No class here, just a sly bird who lived her life on handouts and kept her eye out for any other way of making easy money on the side.

‘Where’s your wife? I thought she was going to be here too?’

‘She’s on her way.’

Donny could see the envelope in her hand and just wanted to get it over with. Panic fluttered in his chest. Maybe he could pay her off, give her some cash to rip the envelope up unopened, make her promise that he’d never have to see her or Dan again.

The moment seemed to last forever.

Bethany sat down next to him on the bench and pulled out a cigarette packet out of her pocket. She offered one to Donny, but he refused. He wanted nothing from her, only the truth. He could smell stale tobacco on her clothing; she stank of it. He didn’t take his eyes off the letter.

Bethany sparked up and sucked hard on the cigarette. ‘I don’t know why you’ve even wasted your money on a test. Dan is your son, why you don’t believe me I’ll never know.’

‘Fuck off, let’s not pretend you weren’t a shag-bag before you were with me. Who’s to say you weren’t sleeping with someone else? There were plenty of rumours you know.’

‘You cheeky fucker, how dare you speak to me like that?’ She thrust the letter into Donny’s hands. ‘Go on. Open it and we can put this to bed, you fucking arsehole.’ Bethany smirked and pointed to a woman approaching. ‘Is this the missus? A proper fancy piece, isn’t she?’

Donny held his breath as he saw his Susan marching towards them. He’d have to watch her like a hawk; he reckoned she would scratch Bethany’s eyeballs out given the chance. She wasn’t a fighter but when her cage was rattled, she could give anyone a run for their money.