‘I’m going to the bank and then to my parents. They should hear this from me and not through the media. Perhaps you should ring your mother too?’ He kissed Martha briefly and left. Of course, he was right and Martha again went upstairs where Suni couldn’t hear, this time to call her mother.

Unsurprisingly it was an emotional conversation. Martha’s mother lived in Carlisle, so there was no easier way to tell her than by telephone, and she lived alone; her husband had died over twenty years earlier while Martha was still at university.

Elaine Perry immediately offered to come and stay with her daughter, but Martha dissuaded her, trying to sound hopeful as she said they were expecting the situation to be ended swiftly. She felt terrible, but having her mother to consider wouldn’t help the stress levels in the house – Elaine and Richard did not get on. The call ended with promises of updates as soon as they happened and Martha replaced the phone. Guilt washed over her at refusing her mother’s offer to come and stay. Although Elaine didn’t see her grandchild often, Martha knew she loved him and her distress was genuine.

There was little else for Martha to do. She considered ringing a few close friends but why upset them when she was confident Danny would be back with them soon? She also didn’t think she could cope with their sympathy and platitudes. For the first time in as long as she could remember, Martha felt control slipping away from her and she hadn’t a clue what to do.

7

DAY 2

Days off work were rare for Martha, by choice, and her mind was always in the office. Today was different, she felt not the slightest desire to ring and find out how they were coping without her. The previous night Martha had fired off a quick email to Kathy, her PA, briefly explaining that she wouldn’t be in for the next couple of days, citing only a family emergency as the reason. The staff would cope and there was nothing in the next few days which required her presence.

Martha’s head buzzed with thoughts of Danny rather than work, and she grew restless. Unused to inactivity or the terrible feeling of powerlessness, she wanted and needed to do something. Unsure how Richard would fare at the bank, Martha decided to apply herself to the financial problem.