She unlocked the community centre and went into the office, where she found a stunning aqua dress hanging behind the door. The fabric had a gorgeous sheen to it and the beautiful cut made it drape softly. Elegant and classy and undeniably expensive, she thought, as she checked the tag. Size 12. Perfect. She wondered how he knew. It was hardly the sort of thing that came up in conversation. There was a matching pair of shoes, and she tried one on, surprised to find that it fitted too. Higher heels than she was used to, but she could manage for one night. Quickly she got herself dressed, carefully folding her work clothes into the bag she’d brought, hiding it under the desk so it would be out of sight if, by some remote chance, someone came into the office.

She smoothed the fabric of the dress round her hips, delighting in its silky feel against her skin. Perhaps she was showing a bit more cleavage than she was happy with, but there was nothing she could do to cover herself up, and anyway, maybe that was the point. Thankfully it was a flattering cut, so she didn’t need to feel embarrassed about the extra weight round her middle. She went into the loos and studied her reflection in the mirror, did a little twirl, delighted with what she saw. Amazing what a difference a fabulous dress could make to your confidence, she thought as she gazed at herself, sure that it had taken years off her.

She heard the front door open and close. Aware that it was probably time to go, she stepped out of the toilets.

‘James, I—’ She froze. Fiona stared back at her, looking as startled as Sara felt, her hand on her chest, eyes wide.

‘Christ, you scared me,’ she said, looking Sara up and down. ‘I was driving past and saw the office light on and thought I must have forgotten to switch it off earlier.’

The door opened and James walked in, looking suave and sophisticated in a slate-grey suit, white shirt and a tie that was the same colour as her dress. A nice touch, Sara thought, as was the matching silk handkerchief in his breast pocket. There was no doubting the fact that they were going out together, no possibility of explaining this away as pure coincidence.

Fiona’s eyes flicked from James to Sara.

‘You said you were going to football practice tonight,’ she said, the line between her eyebrows a deep furrow, an accusing tone to her voice. ‘I asked you.’

Sara cringed, couldn’t speak. She glanced at James, who winked at her before he turned to Fiona with an easy smile.

‘Sara’s kindly helping me with a business meeting. That’s all this is.’ And the way he said it made it all sound very natural, Sara thought, watching the scene as if she were an interested onlooker, disassociated from what was really happening.