He’d never wanted to be like that, and if it meant that money was a bit tight, did that really matter, at the end of the day? They didn’t go hungry, their kids had never been barefoot. Okay, Ellen and Bobby didn’t always have the latest computer games or the trendiest trainers, but they’d had a good, solid family upbringing with two parents around who cared for them and their tea on the table at the same time every night. That’s more than could be said for most kids.

Greg had never put his work first. He’d never thought to chase after any of the secretaries who had given him the eye. He’d only ever thought of Annie, Ellen and Bobby. If they were happy, he was happy.

Now it seemed that Annie wasn’t happy and he had no idea what to do about it.

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

I take my trainers and tracksuit into work. Then sit and stress all day. Exercising will be fun. Won’t it? I could do with losing a few pounds anyway. Plus I want to be powering up the hills with the rest of the young things in the Party Party expedition and not lagging behind at the back.

At five-thirty there is a steady trickle of people departing, all wearing their jogging gear. They look undeniably keen. And undeniably better than I do in a Lycra ensemble. I nip to the ladies’ loo, slip into my ratty old stuff and, heavy of heart, drive the couple of miles to Furzton Lake for our running rendezvous.

In the car park by the large leisure lake, the team are assembling. I can’t say that I’ve ever exercised in public before and I’m not that enthusiastic about starting now. Blake Chadwick is summoning everyone together, so I get out of my car and go to join them, trying a little half-run as I do. Good grief, that’s unpleasant.

‘Hi, Sexy,’ BC says to me as I approach.

I try to pretend I’m not panting and gasp out a, ‘Hi.’

‘Ready for this?’

Not so that you’d notice.

‘Okay, team,’ he shouts in a particularly encouraging way. ‘Let’s do this!’ And he sets off at breakneck pace, jogging around the lake.

I love this part of Milton Keynes. The sun’s sparkling on the expanse of water, herons glide gracefully through the air, a throng of ducks, coots and Canada Geese shadow our progress. The lake is bordered on two sides by a luxury housing development and I’d like to live here, sitting out on my balcony with a beautiful view of the water and of hyperventilating receptionists trying to get fit.