Fired with an indignant rage – her thinking blurred by hurt – Sara got out of the car and ran down the road. She stopped at the front door and took a moment to calm herself down. It would be better if she was stealthy, if she had the advantage of surprise. As quietly as she could, she slid her key into the lock, but it wouldn’t go all the way in. She stared at it, tried again, then realisation dawned. He’s changed the locks.

Her neighbour came out of her front door, glanced over. ‘Morning, Sara,’ she called. ‘Another lovely day.’

Sara gave her a tight smile and walked away, pretending she’d been coming out of the house rather than trying to get in. She stalked back up the road to her car, got in and drove away, her mind a haze of racing thoughts. The changing of the locks felt like a big thing. A permanent thing. A statement that she was no longer welcome, that she’d been evicted and wasn’t going to be allowed back.

Whatever ideas she’d had that she and Matt might be able to repair their relationship, given time and patience, had well and truly been stomped into the dirt. It all made sense now: Fiona’s friendliness, getting to know the girls, creating situations where she and Matt could be together, like at the football. And giving Sara the job at the community centre, which made sure she was out of the house. Christ, I am so stupid. So very, very stupid. Her hands tightened round the steering wheel as if they were wrapped round Fiona’s throat.

She heard her mother’s voice in her thoughts: It takes two to tango… Matt was as much to blame as Fiona. Bloody two-timing hypocrite, accusing me of being unfaithful when he and Fiona were… She slammed on the brakes as a bike swerved in front of her, and took a deep breath. She didn’t even know where she was going; remembered that she was supposed to be meeting Hailey back at the house and pulled over. She called her sister.

‘Where are you?’ Hailey asked when she answered.

‘Slight change of plan. Meet me at the coffee shop. You know, the one by the station. I just need to calm down and get my head straight. I’ll tell you when you get here.’

‘Oh, okay.’ Hailey sounded puzzled. ‘I’ll be there in ten.’