Now she wished she’d gone for a rich and creamy chocolate dessert instead of the lighter, diet-friendly oranges in caramel. That would have been good – something really fattening and rich to indulge in so that the faint nausea she’d feel afterwards would match her mood. Fortunately she’d brought some cream just in case (in case of what, she never asked herself) and although it curdled slightly when poured over the oranges, it tasted nice. After she’d eaten it and poured herself some Grand Marnier she did the full number on the kitchen. Usually she’d just do the minimum and finish in the morning. She much preferred cleaning in daylight but she suspected she’d be feeling low when she came down the next morning and having a clean kitchen might help.

Before she settled down to sleep she texted Helena, hoping her daughter hadn’t taken her phone into the bedroom as she didn’t want to disturb her. I’m not going to Vienna with Leo, she said, and added a grinning emoji.

Chapter Sixteen

Helena must have seen her mother’s text early because she was in the kitchen by eight.

They hugged.

‘Oh God, Mum, I’m so sorry! I would never have told you all that stuff about Leo if I hadn’t been really worried!’ Helena said, still clinging on to her mother.

‘I know you absolutely did it for the best and I don’t know if it was what you said, or him, but I’m going off him.’

Helena gasped in delight. ‘Have you dumped him?’

‘No. He may dump me first.’

‘Oh, don’t let that happen,’ said Helena, possibly worried that Gilly might keep him. ‘Far better for you to do it!’

Gilly didn’t really want to talk about this now. She wanted to make up her own mind in her own time. But she knew Helena would put pressure on her if she showed doubt. She changed the subject. ‘Would you like some belly of pork? You could heat it up for Jago next time you see him.’

Helena looked a bit guilty. ‘I could and that may be quite soon.’

‘Why?’ If it hadn’t been for the guilty look Gilly would never have asked. She felt that if she wanted her privacy respected she should respect Helena’s but she was her mother. There were a few privileges.

‘Because we’re living together. No! Not like that! I’m renting a room in his house. For money. So we’re sharing a house really, not living together. Although we do share meals – or we have so far.’

Gilly smiled again, hoping she didn’t look too fond and clucky for her independent daughter. ‘I’ll give you all the pork belly then.’