Amber looked at Tom. Then at Elaine. Then she burst into tears.

“I loved you first!” she cried. “We were together for three years before she came along. Everyone knew we were meant to be married. Your mother said so!”

“Amber,” said Elaine sharply. “That's enough.”

“No, it's not enough!” Amber spun round to face her. “You said you'd help me get rid of her! You said she wasn't good enough for this family! You sat in your kitchen and helped me write those messages!”

The silence after that was the loudest thing I've ever heard.

Tom stood up. He looked at his mother as if he'd never seen her before.

“Mum?”

Elaine's face had gone grey. “Tom, darling, I only wanted what was best for you. She was a nobody from a council estate. Amber was family. I was protecting you—”

“Protecting me?” His voice cracked. “I threw my pregnant wife out in the rain. I have a son I've never met. He's seven years old.”

He turned to the door and opened it.

“Get out,” he said. “Both of you.”