‘Hmm. You’re right that his parents really drummed it into him that marriage was for life. In fact, when he proposed, he said he’d always be true to me, and told me that I shouldn’t accept unless I would totally commit to our relationship.’ Sara picked up the teaspoon and stabbed it into the sugar bowl, at a loss to know why things had suddenly changed between them. ‘But right now, it’s not working. Even when he’s here, it’s like his mind’s somewhere else.’

‘You can’t go jumping to conclusions, though.’ Hailey reached out and took the spoon from Sara’s hand, moving the sugar bowl out of her reach, much as one might do with a child. ‘Communication, Sara. That’s where most marriages go wrong. People not talking to each other. If you want to find out what’s going on, you’ll have to ask him. Just be straight. What harm can it do?’

Sara looked at her sister and gave a rueful laugh. ‘What harm? You haven’t seen him when…’ She stopped herself, sucked in a breath and chose her words carefully. ‘You know what I’m like about confrontation. After everything with Mum…’ She stopped herself, lips pressed together. ‘I’m not like you. I can’t let it bounce off me. It stresses me out. So I’m not going to pick a fight until I know the facts.’

Hailey leant across the table and gave her hand a comforting squeeze. ‘I know. It’s okay, don’t get yourself upset.’ She smiled. ‘If it’s facts you need, then let’s do a bit of sleuthing. If he’s supposed to be working late tonight, I’ll drive by his office and see if there’s anyone still there. How about that? Now Cassie’s off at uni, I’ve nobody to go home to.’ A flash of sadness crossed her face and she looked away, gulped down the rest of her coffee.

Sara knew Hailey was struggling a bit without her daughter around. They were very close, and Cassie’s absence had left a big hole in her life. A hole that she filled with work and exercise and obsessive house-cleaning. She was an exemplary mother, and even though her husband had left when Cassie was eight, she’d made sure that her daughter had the sort of upbringing she and Sara would have wished for themselves.

‘No, you don’t have to do that,’ Sara said, appalled at the idea of her sister snooping on her husband. But Hailey was undeterred.