She thought back to earlier in the day and Ray’s words. He had been sincere, she was convinced of that. He wasn’t a good liar, her Ray – not to her anyway. She knew when he was being honest. But his words had chilled her. What was he doing that she was better off in ignorance? Oh, she wasn’t a fool. She had grown up in the world they lived in, and she accepted that world. But there had been something in his eyes that had filled her with dread. It was like he was telling her to step away as if there was a bomb in the room.

He turned over in the bed, pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head as she snuggled into him. She would not think about it any more; she had him and that was what mattered. Why look for worries where there weren’t any?

No matter how much she tried to reassure herself there was still that very real prickle of fear inside her. But, like many a woman before her, she forced it from her mind. Life was good and she had a terrible feeling that knowing the truth might cause her more troubles and pain than forgetting they had ever had that conversation. Finally she slept.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Two

Sharon watched as Ray packed an overnight bag. She was looking at what he was putting in there, to see if he was packing a clean shirt or anything that might make her think he was meeting another woman. She hated herself, but she couldn’t help it. Of course he could easily purchase clothes and aftershave if he required them – indeed Ray would be far too shrewd to give her any cause for alarm. But still she found herself watching what he was doing and she knew that he was picking up on her suspicions. That fact alone embarrassed her.

He turned from the bed and smiled at her lovingly. ‘Had your look? Want a photograph?’

She forced herself to laugh lightly; she was a fool but she couldn’t help herself. She wondered if it actually was pregnancy hormones.

‘I will miss you, that’s all. How long did you say?’

He shrugged. ‘Two to three days, depending.’

‘Depending on what?’ It was out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

He shrugged again. ‘Please, Sharon. Not this again, eh? I hate leaving you like this. Upset and suspicious.’

She could hear the underlying annoyance in his voice and that saddened her more than anything. He was rarely impatient with her and, when he was, she knew it was generally for a good reason. She smiled sadly and went back down to the kitchen. She busied herself making a pot of tea and some sandwiches for their lunch.