Mum looked both pleased and nervous at the same time as she led us through to the living room. Sid looked excited but I was doubtful – the atmosphere was dull and uneasy.

'Come on twins,' Mum's voice quivered slightly as she pushed the door open

Sid went in first, but suddenly paused and dropped the bag of sweets. He stood there his mouth slightly open in shock.

I peered into the living room and I too stopped dead in my tracks.

There he sat puffing away on a cigarette, smiling up at us. I frowned, remembering the landlady had banned smoking in the flat. I looked at Mum expecting her to stop him, but she just stood there a blank expression on her face.

'Look Toots! Look!'

Ellie held a Barbie doll up to me with a wide grin on her face.

'Look what I got! Isn't it great,'

I nodded forcing myself to smile.

He looked relaxed as he sat there as though nothing had changed or nothing had ever happened. A large suitcase sat by his feet along with a plastic bag. He had his feet up on the table, his shoes leaving a pile of mud where they rested.

He was the one who cheated. He was the one who waltzed out of our lives. He was the one who made our grandparents too ashamed to speak to us. He was the one who left us with no money. He was the reason Sid can't have animals any more, that Ellie can't have dollies and I don't have my own room.

Yet there he was, back again. Mum had never got over him and by the look of things; he had never got over her. Either that, or Grandma and Granddad had refused to give him money anymore. What other reason would he turn up out of the blue, uninvited?

Then something crossed my mind. What if Mum had invited him? What if she was lying that she never spoke to him since that day? What if, like us, she has lots of secrets? What if he's back for good?

'Twins,' I hate it when people call us that 'I wanted to say sorry, so I brought you all something. Ellie has had her doll but I've got something for you too.'

I looked down at Ellie totally oblivious to everything. She was only a few weeks old when he ran off.

'This is for you,' he said handing Mum a box containing a silver necklace who smiled and gave him a small hug

'And this is for you,' he opened the bag again and took out some books about animals, some old Beanos and a peashooter for Sid. Sid grinned excitedly, flicking through the book, looking at all the pictures with great interest.

'Last, but not least, this is for you Toots.' He said handing me two wrapped gifts

I unwrapped them slowly, discovering a silver notepad decorated with plastic gems and a bracelet with colourful glass beads. They were both pretty and despite them being from him; I couldn't help but like them.

But you see Dad, gifts don't make everything better. He still did what he did and right now I'm not sure I'm ready to forgive him.