Within seconds I was bawling, too upset to even care that Erica was bearing witness to my meltdown.

‘What am I going to do, Hayls? I know it’s over, but how on earth am I going to survive on my own? What about the kids? This will probably mess them up and they’ll end up blaming and hating me. And now I definitely need to get a proper job. But who will hire me? I don’t even know how I’m going to pay for the lawyer.’

I didn’t know how Hayley managed to understand my words through my sobs and hyperventilating, but she squeezed my hand, stroked back my hair, and looked me in the eyes.

‘It’s going to be okay, Ashling. I know it might not feel like it now, but it is. The kids will be okay. You’ll be okay. And we’ll manage the lawyer. Don’t stress about money right now. Just focus on what you need to do to protect yourself and the kids going forward.’

‘I feel like such a failure.’

‘A twenty-year marriage and two beautiful kids is hardly a failure,’ Hayley said firmly. ‘Last I heard the average marriage in Australia was only about twelve years; in my book that makes you an over achiever.’

I sniffed, almost smiling at that.

She dug a tissue out of her handbag and handed it to me. Of course, it reminded me of the tissue I’d found in the bathroom and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to start crying all over again.

Would I never be able to use a tissue again without thinking of Adrian’s betrayal?

Once Hayley gave her the okay, Erica brought me a glass of water and asked if there was anything she could do to help. I guess, despite trying to make herself scarce, she’d got the gist of our conversation.

‘No thanks.’ I forced a smile and took a sip. ‘You’ve been helpful enough already.’

In the end, I only bought one pair of the outrageously expensive thongs, a pair of boots that I could walk in, some sneakers that were so pretty they couldn’t really have been intended for exercise, and the pink heels, because Hayley liked them and we had the same shoe size. All up they came to almost fifteen-hundred dollars and I didn’t feel one iota of guilt.

‘Good luck,’ Erica said as Hayley ushered me out of the store.

A teenage girl in a private school uniform walked past and my hand rushed to my mouth. ‘Shit. I almost forgot about Payton. I need to pick her up but I’m a mess. I can’t let her see me like this.’

‘It’s all right,’ Hayley said, taking my arm and leading me over to my car. ‘Go home. Go to bed and I’ll pick Payton up. I’ll tell the kids you have a migraine.’