When Laura Anne Robinson offered £10,000 for Addie Jeffries' youngest son Ian, Addie thought she was joking. After all, they were on their second bottle of Chablis, and Ian was, as they say, a street angel and a house devil. Why would this wealthy woman with her perfect figure, flawless make-up and beautiful home part with so much money to secure a summer playmate for her own son?

For the Jeffries family, life in 1960s suburban Ireland is a constant battle with leaky roof, school fees and repeatedly darned socks. While Addie hankers after the finer things for herself and her family, husband Roy lacks ambition and lets promotion opportunities pass him by time and again, until Addie loses patience and takes matters into her own hands.

It's a risky endeavour, she knows. If all goes to plan, the Jeffries will never have to worry again about getting the roof fixed, but if it doesn't, they stand to lose the one thing no amount of money can buy.