She paused for a moment, then said, ‘No. No, I don’t. Not with you.’

Eventually Christopher stood up and made a move to go. Maria stood up, too, and walked towards him. ‘Thank you so much,’ she said. ‘For such a great time.’

‘No. Thank you. It made such a change.’

It all seemed so desperately polite, thought Christopher. Like two people testing the water. Afraid to overstep the mark. Each wondering what the other was thinking but not daring to ask.

Maria smiled. ‘Are you out of practice as much as I am?’

Christopher nodded. ‘I guess.’ He laid his arms on her shoulders and bent to kiss her gently on the lips. Then he straightened up with his arms still around her and she lay her head on his chest.

‘What a day,’ she said. ‘What a lovely day.’

As Erica had promised, she gave Kate supper on her lap.

‘It’s nothing special, I’m afraid. Marks and Sparks best.’

Kate, wrapped up in a white towelling robe and sitting in front of a roaring log fire, spooned up the moussaka with a fork and almost purred. ‘If you knew how much I longed to do this…’

Finally, Erica asked, ‘Is it not how you thought it would be?’

Kate was defensive at first. ‘I knew what I was doing, Erica. Made up my mind what I really wanted. How could I not be happy? I have everything. A guy who makes a fuss of me, the chance to travel all over the world, and plenty of money. I can indulge myself with whatever I want. That’s all a girl needs, isn’t it?’

Erica took her time over her mouthful of food. Then she said, ‘Is it?’

Kate spoke softly. ‘Not really, no.’ She put down the plate and picked up her glass of wine, taking a large gulp. ‘I don’t know why.’ She gazed into the roaring fire. ‘I remember being so frustrated with Christopher. So annoyed that he never seemed to be able to give me any time. He was always so busy with his patients,’ she half laughed, ‘or his garden. But the time we did spend together was somehow…whole.’

‘As in wholesome?’

‘No. As in complete.’ She turned to Erica. ‘Does that make sense?’

‘Yes.’

‘The trouble was, it just wasn’t enough. There wasn’t enough of it. I wasn’t completely satisfied.’

‘Maybe it’s not possible to be completely satisfied,’ Erica said, softly.

‘You don’t think I’m someone who thinks the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?’

‘A bit. You did go, Kate. You did have the choice.’

‘Yes. I’m just not sure I made the right one.’

‘Does Howie know you’re not happy?’

‘I think he suspects. I’ve not been the best of company lately. For anyone.’

Erica leaned forward and rested her hand on Kate’s. ‘We all make mistakes, you know.’