‘Call me Elise, please.’

Victor snorted. ‘Does that young woman think I’m short of money?’

‘She’s suspicious of the whole world,’ Elise said. ‘She lives her life adversarially, always on the defence because she expects people to try to take advantage of her.’

He shook his head sadly. ‘She doesn’t at all resemble her aunt. You aren’t nearly suspicious enough, Elise. Now, Gordon, we oldies need our naps. I think we’ve finished all the paperwork. I’d be obliged if you’d register it for us. Let me see you out.’

After the others had left, Victor came back to find Elise still standing near the table. He put his arms round her and said gently, ‘Go on, cry it out!’

She did shed a few tears of sheer relief, cradled against his shoulder. After she’d mopped her eyes, they went back into the sitting room, where they each took a sofa and lay down.

Victor smiled across at her. ‘Aaah! This sofa is so comfortable. It often tempts me into an afternoon nap.’

‘Thank you for rescuing me.’

‘My pleasure.’

She could feel herself drifting off into sleep and snuggled down against a soft cushion, feeling safe for the first time in ages and feeling hope for the future.

Chapter Six

Stacy saw Darren again at her local shopping centre and wondered what he was doing there when he lived on the other side of town. She tried to slip away without him seeing her, but as she was getting into her car she heard footsteps running towards her.

‘Hey, wait! Stace, wait a minute!’

She spun round and leant against the car, arms folded, not hiding her annoyance. ‘What the hell do you want, Darren?’

‘Let me buy you a coffee and I’ll tell you.’

‘I don’t want any coffee. I’m on my way home.’

‘Then invite me round to your place for a cuppa and I’ll tell you about it. It’ll be just like old times.’

‘No. It’ll never be like old times. We broke up last year, Darren. You wanted your freedom. Well, now you have it, so go and find someone else to share it with. I’m busy.’

‘You haven’t got another guy in tow, you must be lonely.’

She could feel herself stiffening. ‘How would you know about my social life?’

‘I ran into Penny from your work and we got chatting.’

Just wait till she saw Penny! ‘I don’t need a guy to enjoy life.’ She turned to open the car door.

He pulled her away from it. ‘I was wrong, Stacy, wrong to break up. Please … give me another chance.’

‘No.’

He looked puzzled. ‘That’s all. Just no? When I’m offering to take you back?’

‘You heard correctly. I don’t have to give reasons. Now, I’ve got things to do.’ This time she got the car door open but he pushed her to one side and slammed it shut again, looking furious.

She was so surprised by this she did nothing for a moment but stare at him.