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‘Local man arrested for assault’. A picture of Brian filled the screen, his ugly face no different from the last time I saw him.

“Did you report him?”

Frankie and I had talked at length about what his stepdad had done to him, and while we’d taken extensive photographs of his injuries, he still hadn’t plucked up enough courage to visit the police.

At first, I was mad at him. Brian shouldn’t have been allowed to get away with it. He could have killed Frankie, but Frankie feared what would happen, not only to him but his mum too. But looking at this article in the local rag, we hadn’t needed to. He’d been unable to keep his fists to himself and taken it out on some other poor, unsuspecting victim.

“I never got around to it. I know I should have, and we can argue about this until we’re blue in the face, but I was protecting Mum and Logan. Maybe I should speak to the police now, though. What do you think?” He turned to face me, indecision clear on his face.

“You know my thoughts, and my family’s thoughts, but ultimately, it’s your choice. It certainly looks like his number’s up. It says here that the guy has suffered extensive injuries. I don’t care how his solicitor spins this, he won’t be getting away with it this time.”

“I’m going to think about it. Maybe I should speak to Mum.” He worried his lip again. “Let’s have dinner, and we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

He fretted all night, pushing the food around on his plate, barely eating anything, and when he said he was having an early night, I watched with concern as he climbed the stairs and closed his bedroom door.

I tidied up the kitchen, happy I only had another couple of days at work. The weather had definitely cooled down, and I hoped we could get some time down at the coast to blow away the cobwebs. With that decision made, I headed to bed. We could set off early, stop for breakfast on the way and make a day of it.

But a couple of hours later, I was woken by shouts. I sat bolt upright. What the hell was going on? I jumped out of bed, fully expecting to find Brian standing on the landing, belt in hand, but it was empty.

Soft whimpering came from Frankie’s room, and I pushed open the door, the light from the landing illuminating his hunched form.

“Frankie?” I crept over to sit on the side of the bed.

“I didn’t mean to wake you. I had a nightmare.” Tears rolled down his face and onto his T-shirt.

“Come ‘ere.” I brought him into my chest and put my arms around him. “Do you want to talk about it?” Whether he did or not, I had a good idea what it was about. We hadn’t spoken about the assault, and certainly not about Brian.

Seeing Brian again, even though he’d been arrested, must have brought back terrible memories for Frankie. I rocked him back and forth, stroking his hair, but the tears didn’t stop.

“Can you… will you…” he hiccupped, barely able to speak.

“Do you want me to get in with you? Or you could come to my room?” I held him at arm’s length and waited for his reply. Was that what he wanted?

“Your bed. Is that okay?” His voice was barely audible.

I helped him to my room and into bed, tucking him into my side, all the while stroking his hair.

“Your gran called me the other day to remind me your birthday is coming up. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Didn’t seem much point.” The tears had stopped, but still, he shook.

“I’d like to celebrate it. It’s your twenty-first. We could invite your gran, your Mum and Logan, but only if you want to. We could invite my family as well, if that’d be okay. What do you say?” I’d been thinking about it since she called me.

“Since when do you have her number? She didn’t mention she’d called you the last time we spoke.”

“I took her number when we went to the hospital so I could let her know how you were. What do you think? Would you like to do something?”

“Can we talk about it tomorrow? I just want to sleep.” He snuggled in deeper, and minutes later, his breaths evened out, gentle snuffles coming from him.

I realised at that moment that I’d do anything to make him happy and keep him safe.

The following morning, Frankie was up with the lark and had already made breakfast and brewed the coffee by the time I arrived downstairs.

I kissed his cheek, smelling the subtle scent of shower gel on his skin. “You’re up early, and thank you for breakfast.”

“I want to go out today. I’ve a few things I want to do.” He sat next to me, his cup cradled in his hands.

“Where do you need to go? I can take you on my way to work if you like.”