He looked a bit taken aback, as though she was missing something obvious and he couldn’t quite believe she was being so dense. ‘I thought we could use the contingency fund. You know, the money your aunt left you. In fact, I was going to look for the account information today, then I remembered it’s in your name, so I can’t access it anyway. Ten grand, wasn’t it?’ Sara tried to hide her dismay, but he caught the change in her expression and his voice had a harder edge to it. ‘I know I said we shouldn’t take risks. Keep it in the bank for a crisis. But this is a crisis, love. And an opportunity at the same time. It would be an investment in our future. The kids’ future too.’

She chewed at her lip, unable to find a single thing to say. How could she tell him the money was no longer there?

He misread her silence and dropped her hand, his disappointment bringing a sudden coolness to the air and a snap to his voice. ‘Don’t you want me to be happy? Don’t you want me to follow my dreams?’

She cleared her throat. ‘Of course I do, love. It’s just a lot to take in, and I think… I think… Is that the pasta burning?’ She grabbed the oven gloves and pulled the dish out of the oven, putting it on the hob, where it bubbled and spat. ‘Just in time.’ She gave him a quick smile. ‘Let’s talk about it later, when the kids are in bed and I’ve got a clear head, okay?’

He nodded, mouth twisting from side to side. ‘Sorry I went off on one. I’m just so pumped about the whole thing. I truly believe I’m on to a winner.’

‘It sounds exciting. Honestly it does.’ She tried to force some enthusiasm into her voice. ‘But you’re going to have to explain it a bit more, so I understand exactly what we’re investing in. Because once that money’s gone… well, there’s no getting it back.’

She loathed her own hypocrisy, telling him this when she had been lured by the promise of high returns and put everything in that one investment.

What’s Matt going to say when he finds out?