I sigh. Tash sounded less than impressed when I rang her this morning to say I couldn’t make it in. If I don’t get back to the office soon, I suspect there won’t be a job to go to. She’d better not renege on her promise to let me go to Tokyo. Speaking of which…

“Leanne, I need to go to Tokyo in a couple of days for work,” I say firmly. “It’s important.” I steel myself, waiting for her disapproval.

“OK.”

That’s it? I was sure she was going to talk me out of it. Actually, I might have been secretly hoping she would.

“So I can fly still?”

“Sure. For the next two to three weeks. I’d suggest at seven months you avoid overseas travel.”

“Oh. OK. Thanks.”

“Of course, if the bleeding or pains start up again, you’ll have to re-assess.”

“Absolutely.”

Emma turns her car into my street.

“Thanks again, Leanne.”

“Bye.”

The second I move my phone away from my ear, Emma opens her mouth.

“You told me you had no bleeding,” she snaps.

I consider coming up with some story, but in the end I just say sorry.

“It’s like in the past few weeks I’ve gone from thinking we’re the closest of friends to wondering if I know you at all. Honestly, Trish, the four of us have been hanging out together forever and we’ve been each other’s biggest support, but now… I feel like you’ve been presenting us with one Trish – the beautiful, confident, got everything under control Trish – when there’s been this whole other Trish you’ve kept hidden.”

“That about sums it up,” I mutter.

Emma pulls up outside my house, turns off the ignition and faces me. “Why?”

“Why what?”

She narrows her eyes. “Why keep that part of yourself from us?”

I shrug. If only I could just get out of the car and leave.

“It’s how I was raised, I guess. Get on with things, don’t show your emotions, don’t talk about stuff. It’s the military way, Em.”

“Bollocks. It was your father’s way.”

I nod. “True.”

“I hope you’ll talk sometime. About your dad and mum. Meeting your brother the other day made me realize the lack of family support you have. I feel bad for not recognizing how hard that must be.”

“I’m pleased,” I state, staring at my lap.

“Pleased?”

“I couldn’t get away from my family fast enough. Anyway, you and Mags and Lily are my family.”

“We are…” Emma trails off. “I just want”

“Oh, shit,” I exclaim, having spied Pete standing by my front door. “What the hell is he doing here?”

Emma glances at Pete and bites her lip. “Want me to send him packing?”