Tina was rattled by the near miss. This was bad. She hadn’t planned for anything like this, she’d thought it would all be plain sailing once she’d got the flat set up for Amelia. She’d even thought she’d be grateful. How stupid she’d been.

She sank into the nearest chair and dropped her head into her hands. She needed to think. As a teacher, Tina was used to being the one in control but it hit her now that Amelia – young, broke and pregnant as she was – was actually the one with the power. She was going to have to tread carefully.

Minutes passed. Amelia didn’t dare move a muscle after what had happened before. When Tina finally lifted her head the look in her eyes chilled the teenager to the bone.

‘You’re having this baby just like we planned. I’m going to look after you until it’s been born. But, for now, you’re not going anywhere. Not a chance.’

Amelia sat with her legs drawn up to her chest, rocking to and fro. How had it all got so out of hand? She wanted her mother, she just wanted to be at home with her family.

It was nearly midnight when Tina left; she wanted to be sure that Amelia had come back round to her way of thinking. The girl was sleeping now. Tina stood at the bedroom door and watched her sprawled across the bed. She closed the door gently and crept down the hallway, then stood with her back against the cold wall, banging her head against it slowly, rhythmically. What the hell had she got herself into? She needed a plan, a new plan to make sure the girl stayed put. She closed the front door behind her. Then quickly turned the key in the lock and then she was gone.

Amelia was too scared to move. It was the middle of the night but a noise had woken her. It sounded like somebody was at the front door knocking. Her body froze, though her heart was racing like a speeding train. She tried to steady herself then slowly she crept into the hallway and checked the door. It was locked. It was always locked. Tina made sure that nobody could get in – or out.