‘They’re your kids as much as mine.’ She spat out the words, annoyed that he was making it sound like he was doing her a reluctant favour. He was being so awkward about her being away for two measly nights when he’d been off on all sorts of jaunts with his football mates over the years without a backward glance. In fact, now she thought about it, this would be the first time she’d been away from the family since the twins were born fourteen years ago.

Her resolve hardened, forming a lump in her throat. I deserve a break. The idea that she should be able to take some time for herself was rooted in her mind now, blossoming into full-on indignation.

‘I’m going. It’s all sorted. Nothing to pay because the girl who backed out is mortified she had to cry off at the last minute. She’s happy for me to take her place.’ The lies were coming easily now, fuelled by anger. ‘I know you’ve nothing on. I’ve been working flat out and I need a couple of days off.’

There was a hard glint in his eyes. ‘You really don’t care about me and my work, do you?’

There was no answer to that, so she busied herself with sorting out the washing-up, rinsing the dirty dishes before stacking the dishwasher.

He scowled and guzzled his beer, almost half a bottle gone before he took it away from his mouth. She glanced at him, wondering if she actually knew her husband any more. Had he changed, or had she just not noticed the things about him that annoyed her now? Maybe it’s me who’s changed. Different expectations.

She thought of James, his gentleness and impeccable manners. How considerate he was. The dress he’d bought her, the lunches out, little treats with morning coffee if he was passing. He did everything for her that she’d like her husband to do, but she knew that sort of consideration really wasn’t in Matt’s make-up. He was a different kind of man altogether, and more of a stranger to her by the day.

A new thought hit her then, making her stop what she was doing. Is James really making me repay the debt, or is it his way to spend time with me?

She followed the logic, like tugging on a fishing line, waiting to see what was on the end of it, unsure where her thoughts would lead. Is he in love with me? The very idea made her blush. Certainly his behaviour was that of a would-be lover, a gentle courtship by a lonely man who was too shy to be up-front about it.