That was the phrase she’d repeated to herself since she’d left Rob outside his house. It was a kiss, nothing more. It wasn’t a snog. It wasn’t sex. But her conscience knew. It was physical contact and it was not with her husband. Therefore, it was wrong. She couldn’t even blame alcohol. She’d stuck to just the one G&T, drinking Diet Coke after that. She’d overstepped the line, even if it had only been meant as a ‘thank you’ kiss. That type of kiss would usually be a peck delivered to the cheek, not a lingering one smack-bang on the lips. She’d broken the trust. Marriage is based on trust; secrecy is the enemy, she heard Dom’s voice saying.

And having committed this act of betrayal, what exactly had she gained?

It was only a kiss.

But she doubted Dom would see it that way. Did Rob?

She was playing with fire and wasn’t even sure to what end. Rob had opened up a little about what he thought Billy Cawley had done and why, but an internet search would’ve told her that. She had found out about the Monday tea and cake morning – but she knew that piece of information was probably in the shop window. Spending an entire evening in the pub with a man she’d met once was not really required to gain it. Also, because of her lie about being Muriel’s niece, she wasn’t sure rocking up to the village hall for cake would be the brightest of moves. Having said that, maybe Rob wouldn’t have time to mention to customers that he’d met Muriel’s niece, and as he wouldn’t be at the village hall, she might be able to go and mingle and not be called out.

Given she had very little else to go on, Lizzie made the decision to sort herself out and drive to the hall. She never could say no to cake.

The village hall was opposite the church and there was a small car park off it. Lizzie sat in the car for a while, watching as a few old people slowly, painfully, entered the building. She was going to stick out like a sore thumb. Even more than at the pub last night. She hoped she didn’t spot anyone who’d been in the bar. What if they’d seen her kiss Rob? She pulled her fingers through her hair. ‘Don’t think about it,’ she said out loud. After giving herself a quick glance in the visor mirror, Lizzie jumped out of the car before she could change her mind.

There were half a dozen or so rectangular tables dotted around the hall with sturdy metal chairs covered in orange-coloured cushioned fabric arranged at them. A hatch linked the main room and the kitchen where a few ladies were arranging plates of buns, muffins and slices of cake. The laminated sign informed Lizzie each item was two pounds, a cup of tea or coffee one. Juice with a biscuit was twenty pence. Lizzie looked around briefly; there were no children there, but presumably some were expected.