‘To put people on edge.’

‘And does it?’

‘I can’t speak for the others, but it drives me crazy. It’s like Chinese water torture waiting for the next click.’

He shot her another sideways glance. ‘Who knew that within that tough outer shell of yours, Martha, you were such a sensitive little soul.’

‘So why do you do it?’

‘It helps me think. Anything else you want to ask?’

‘No, nothing else.’

‘Good, because I have something else to say to you, and I don’t want any arguments. You’re to take the rest of the week off; show your face in the office and I’ll have security escort you from the building. No, don’t even think about disagreeing with me. You’ve had a helluva day and I want you fully rested before you come back on Monday. Maybe you should see your doctor, just to be on the safe side. Yes?’

‘You’re quite the mother hen when you want to be, aren’t you?’

‘If caring for my employees makes me a mother hen, I’ll take it. Now, according to the satnav, we’re five minutes from our destination.’

Five more minutes, thought Martha, and then she’d be home with Tom and this bizarre day would be over.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Late that night, and back from the pub and farewell drinks with a crowd from work, Willow was more than ready for the day to be over. But first she needed something to eat and, more importantly, for Rick to calm down.

She had just put two slices of bread into the toaster and was patiently, and rather self-consciously as Rick watched her, waiting for it to pop up. She was starving, having only eaten a packet of pork scratchings all evening. Her friends from work had surprised her with a beautiful boxed set of Beatrix Potter books for the baby, and earlier, before she’d arrived for work, they’d decorated the office with pink balloons and Jeanie had made cupcakes with pink icing. They’d all made such a fuss of her, and when their shift was over, they had taken the balloons with them to the pub and tied them to the back of their chairs. Kyle had joined them for a drink but hadn’t stayed for long, which meant they could relax and enjoy themselves all the more once he’d gone.

She’d told Rick that she’d be home at nine o’clock, but she hadn’t rolled in until nearly eleven. It wasn’t until she was on her way home in a cab that she’d checked her mobile and seen all the messages he’d left her and how many times he’d tried to ring her. Uh-oh, she’d thought. Letting herself in at the flat, juggling the present and cards she’d been given, along with a couple of pink balloons, she’d been greeted by a furious Rick demanding to know why the hell she hadn’t answered any of his calls. Didn’t she care that he’d spent the entire evening frantic with worry, he’d yelled. She’d apologised and explained quite truthfully that there had been so much noise at the pub she hadn’t heard her phone ringing, but it didn’t wash with him. He’d checked her breath too, to make sure she hadn’t been drinking any alcohol. Thank goodness she hadn’t, or that would have only made things worse.