She blinked, wrong-footed, all the words she was about to say disappearing like a wisp of smoke from a lighted match. ‘Fantastic,’ she said after a beat too long, hoping he hadn’t noticed her hesitation. She sat next to him on the sofa, made herself look him in the eye and fixed an enthusiastic smile to her face. ‘Come on then, tell me all about it. It’s been a bit of a mystery, this contract of yours.’

‘They want me to do more.’

He looked so pleased with himself, she wavered about her confession. Maybe it can wait, she thought, her hands fidgeting, pulling at the hem of her T-shirt.

She smiled harder. ‘Well, that’s good, isn’t it?’

He grinned, picked up his tea and blew on the surface before taking a sip. ‘This is just the start. Just you wait. Things are going to be so much better for us.’

‘So…’ Sara tried to remember what he’d said about payment before she went away. ‘They paid you cash?’

‘That’s right.’

‘How much exactly?’

‘Enough to pay off at least one of the credit cards and catch up with the mortgage.’

She bit her lip; his answer was too vague to work out the exact amount. ‘It would be good to save some, wouldn’t it?’ She averted her eyes, brushed imaginary fluff off her jeans. ‘Just in case the next contract takes longer than you think.’

Silence.

There was an edge to his voice when he eventually spoke. ‘You know, it would be really good if you had a bit of confidence in me.’

Oh God, I’ve upset him now. She put out a hand, rubbed his leg. ‘I do. Of course I do. It’s just—’

‘Just what?’ he snapped, making her jump, his good mood in danger of turning nasty.

She smoothed the fabric of the settee, picking at a blob of chocolate as she searched for an answer, still unable to look at him. ‘It feels like we’re still quite vulnerable. Financially, I mean. My full-time contract is only until September. Then they’re reviewing the whole staffing of the community centre to see if they can find cost savings. That’s what I read in the minutes of Fiona’s meeting with the new treasurer.’ She glanced at Matt, grimaced. ‘Might be good to have a nest egg to fall back on.’