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Val told her, figuring that there was no use in beating around the bush because the sooner the girl knew the score, the sooner she would be able to come to terms with it. ‘It’s not that he doesn’t love you,’ she went on, trying to soften the blow when she saw the raw despair in Skye’s eyes. ‘He’s just being realistic, because he knows he can’t cope by himself.’
    Skye felt as though she’d been kicked in the stomach. ‘You’re lying,’ she gasped. ‘My dad wouldn’t do that to me.’
    ‘It won’t have been easy for him,’ Val said softly. ‘But he knows it was the right thing to do. And the children’s home is only a temporary measure; just until we find suitable long-term foster-parents to place you with.’
    ‘No!’ Skye cried. ‘I won’t go; you can’t make me!’
    Marie had stayed quiet while Val was talking, but she placed a hand on Skye’s shoulder now and said, ‘No one wants to hurt you, my love; we’re all just trying to do what’s best for you. I think your dad was very brave to admit that he can’t cope, and I’m sure your mum will be able to visit when she’s better.’
    ‘What do you know?’ Skye jerked away from her and sprang up from her seat. ‘You’re just a stupid old woman who steals other people’s kids ’cos you can’t have your own. And I hate you , you fat bitch!’ She rounded on Val. ‘You don’t even know us, so what gives you the right to tell us what to do? I’m going home, and you can’t stop me!’
    She turned now and rushed towards the door, but was infuriated to find her way blocked by Dennis Vaughn. ‘ Move !’ she screamed, kicking out at him.
    ‘Calm down,’ he ordered, wincing as the toe of her shoe connected with his shin. ‘The more you fight, the harder you’ll make it for yourself.’ He gripped her firmly by the shoulders when she started lashing out with her fists, and said, ‘Like it or not, this is the law, and you’ve got no say in it.’
    ‘Leave me alone!’ Skye sobbed, sinking to her knees as the fight drained from her. ‘I just want to go hoooome !’
    An hour later, after a silent journey during which Skye had tried to escape from the back of the car only to find that the safety locks had been activated, Val pulled up at the gates of the children’s home. Skye’s stomach churned with dread when she gazed out and saw the metal grilles covering the windows, and the razor-wire topping the high wall.
    ‘I know it looks bad,’ Val said, shifting in her seat to look back at Skye as she waited for the electronic gate to be opened. ‘But it’s much nicer on the inside, and there’s always lots of fun stuff going on.’
    Still reeling from the news that her dad had survived only to turn his back on her when she needed him the most – and convinced that this interfering bitch had made him do it – Skye clutched at her angel necklace and desperately prayed that she would wake up to find that it had all been a terrible dream.
    When the gates opened, Val drove in and parked beside a broad flight of steps at the top of which four teenage girls were smoking cigarettes.
    ‘Who’s on duty?’ Val asked them as she released Skye from the car and ushered her up the steps.
    ‘Col and Lucy,’ one of the girls replied, eyeing Skye through a cloud of smoke. ‘Who’s this?’
    ‘Her name’s Skye,’ said Val. Then, turning to Skye, she gestured to each of the girls in turn, saying, ‘And these ladies are Nadine, Simone, Jackie, and …’ She paused when she reached the last one, and frowned.
    ‘Maz,’ the girl grunted.
    ‘And Maz,’ said Val. Then, smiling, she said, ‘Now you all know each other, I trust you’ll help Skye to settle in, because she might be here for some time.’
    ‘You know us, Val.’ Nadine flashed a sly glance at Skye. ‘We always keep a close eye on the new ones.’
    Skye’s legs had started to tremble, and she stumbled when Val pushed her on towards the door.
    ‘Don’t worry about