Before I could work out how exactly to respond, Saxon came up behind us. Digging my keys out of my handbag, I said, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t have time for this right now, Adrian. I need to take Sax home, but our situation stays the way it is. Have a nice day.’

Before he could object, I turned and strode towards my car. Saxon, clearly not wanting to get in any further trouble, hurried after me.

My heart thundered as I slammed the door shut. I’d never liked conflict and realised now that because of this, Adrian had always got whatever he wanted in our marriage. Well, no more. However terrifying standing up for myself was, it was also empowering, and I was so damn proud of the woman I was becoming.

Chapter 53

53

Ragged Point

Leaving my children again after the drama we’d had with Saxon wasn’t easy. I got into a routine, checking in with Sax morning and night—making him offer me more than his standard one-word answers—and I also called Adrian for a daily update on our son’s progress as well. He wasn’t very forthcoming, clearly trying to punish me for my decision, but I refused to cave to his desires and tried to ease my anxiety about what was going on at home by keeping busy.

While I enjoyed my shifts at Brewed Awakening and putting more of my own mark on the Reporter, it was continuing to renovate the shack and working on the ball that I found the most rewarding. These were things I could visibly see taking shape and it gave me a buzz in the same way breathing fresh air into my lungs while walking on the beach did.

After asking Jedda’s thoughts on food for the ball, she’d talked to her friend, the president of the local CWA, and they’d offered to take on the catering. The menu they’d proposed made my mouth water—no one cooked better than country women—but I wanted Jedda to enjoy the night as well.

‘How will you be able to dance and have fun while you’re in the kitchen?’ I’d asked.

‘Are you kidding? I can’t think of anything worse than having to get all glammed up to sit at a table and make polite conversation.’

‘But you loved dressing up for trivia night—you were the life of the party.’

‘Silly costumes and fancy ballgowns are two very different things. I’m glad to help but I’m no Cinderella.’

In addition to the menu, the band was locked in, the local Year 6 class had been given the task of making the decorations as part of their community project, the prizes and items for the silent auction were piling up, and the tickets had just gone on sale.