“Oh he is over there with his daddy. Why don’t I have a daddy?” Miley said looking at Tina smiling

“What do you mean there with his daddy?” Tina asked starting to worry

“His daddy. On holiday, can I go on holiday with them?” Miley answered and got a fright when Tina just jumped up.

Tina ran into the kitchen and looked out into the back garden, Malaci wasn’t there, she ran into his bedroom and started worrying when Bette caught her and made her explain what was going on. They searched the house and out in the garden for him but couldn’t find him anywhere. Just as Tina was about to phone the police to report her son missing he came walking through the door

“Malaci!” Tina shouted and ran over to him “where were you? I was so worried” she gave him a cuddle.

“You gave me money and said I could go to the shop if I was careful on the road and if I bought Miley something” he answered

Malaci wasn’t a stupid boy, he knew something was wrong as soon as he walked through the door and his Mum nearly stopped him breathing with her grasp.

For the next couple of days Tina was constantly on her guard. At night she was checking on Malaci every hour or so. She stopped him going to the shop without either Bette or herself. She drove the kids to school and picked them back up, she also told the school not to let him leave the grounds at all during interval or lunch breaks.

Everything was going great. Miley hadn’t mentioned anything about Malaci having a Dad. Tina had actually started to relax around her own home again.

“Mum, can I go to the shop? Without you!” Malaci asked about a week later.

“What? Oh right, yeah, here” handing Malaci some money “remember and get your sister something” Tina said

“Yeah I know the drill” Malaci laughed running out the door

Tina laughed after he had left. She was watching TV when she looked at the clock. Malaci was taking a long time to go to the shop. She walked up stairs and looked out the front bedroom window to see the streets leading up to the shop and hopefully see her son. Malaci was in the park, sitting on the swing. Paul was talking to him. Tina’s whole body felt numb and she screamed. Bette came running out of the study thinking it was just a spider. In her mind Bette knew exactly what she would do if she ever had the chance to do something to Paul for hurting her Tina all those years ago, but that time was now, and she felt as helpless as the next person. Tina ran down the stairs and all the way round to the park, she stood close enough for Malaci and Paul to see her but far away so she didn’t need to look at him.