‘Come on, sweetie-pie, let’s get your coat on.’ Samantha Kirkdale wiped a strand of dark hair from her little boy’s forehead. He gazed at her with large brown eyes and revealed white teeth, then dropping the wooden car he’d been holding, he ran on chubby legs into the hall.

Samantha raced after him, marvelling at his speed. He’d only been walking for two months but in that time had become adept at a standing start. She caught him and scooped him up in her arms, making him gurgle in delight.

‘Were you running away from Mummy, Oscar? Were you?’ She tickled his stomach, making him squirm. ‘You know what happens to little boys who scamper off. They get tickled by the tickle monster.’ She ran her fingertips over the front of his T-shirt, making him chuckle louder until he shook his head from side to side.

‘Enough? Want to go to the park now?’

He wriggled to get down and sat on the floor so she could put on his shoes. Samantha crouched down beside him and pushed on the small trainers she’d bought only the day before. Her boy was growing so quickly he’d soon be requiring new ones. She’d have to ask Daniel for some more money. He wouldn’t be happy about it but tough. They’d agreed he’d support her and Oscar financially. That was the trade-off. She’d give him the divorce he wanted only if he paid their rent and child support, along with some money for her. She wasn’t greedy. She had her part-time job at the children’s nursery to help make ends meet.

Daniel had seen reason in the end. She could have taken it to the lawyers and maybe even been granted half of his salary. Her friends had told her to throw him out and remain in the family home, then he’d be forced to pay the rent on it, but she didn’t want to stay where there were memories. She wanted a fresh start. Besides, Daniel wasn’t the only one seeing somebody else. She’d met someone too and the relationship was showing promise.

A knock at the door made her start. ‘I wonder who that is,’ she said in a singsong voice to her son. ‘It might be Vicky.’ That morning, she’d spoken to her best friend, who’d said she’d try and drop by before her work shift began. Oscar leant forward, picked up his other shoe and handed it to her. He liked Vicky a lot.

‘Hang on a sec, Vicky,’ she called. ‘Won’t be a minute.’

She dragged the shoe over Oscar’s foot, leaving him to roll over and push himself to his feet, and headed to the door. She opened it, a smile on her face. ‘You made it. Oscar’s…’ she said. The words froze on her lips. A small cry of terror replaced them and she shoved the door with the flat of both hands to shut it on the intruder on her doorstep. It was too late. It flew open, knocking her backwards into the wall. The door shut quietly and she scrabbled to regain balance, eyes widening at what was in front of her.

‘Please. No. My little boy is here. Don’t hurt us. Don’t hurt him.’ Oscar was now behind her legs, small fingers grabbing the back of her jeans. ‘Please. Don’t.’ Her mind couldn’t process what was happening. It defied logic. Her baby was behind her and she had to protect him. What could she do to save him? To save them both?

The blow came out of the blue. As she tumbled to the floor, all thoughts evaporated.