They drove back to the club, and Nathan gave Mandy her instructions for the evening. She had a bit of a strop, as he expected she would, but she knew the score.

‘I’d much rather be entertaining you all night, boss,’ she whispered in his ear. Her hand ran down his chest and dangerously close to his groin. He was still frustrated at not finding Grace earlier and still having no idea where she’d been. He rubbed his temples which were starting to throb.

‘Not tonight,’ he barked at her and signalled to Jake that they were leaving.

‘Let’s go somewhere no one will bother me,’ Nathan said as he drove them both to the Rose and Crown.

As soon as Nathan opened the doors he saw her behind the bar, smiling and laughing, like she hadn’t a care in the fucking world, while he’d been losing his mind, wondering where she’d been all day. Jake wandered off to catch up with some of his mates, and Nathan went straight to the bar. She had him a whisky ready before he even sat down.

‘Where the fuck have you been all day, Grace?’ he barked.

The colour drained from her face. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Didn’t you hear me or something? Where the fuck have you been? It’s a simple question.’

‘I was out with a friend,’ she said.

‘What friend? And where did you go? I came here looking for you, and then I went to your house, but you weren’t there.’

‘I went into town for a coffee and a look around the shops. I met up with Joanne, she used to work here. We keep in touch and meet up every now and then. That’s all. I wasn’t aware I had to check with you if I went anywhere, Nathan.’

He could see she was regaining her composure. She stared at him; her eyes narrowing; jaw set defiantly. She was a lot feistier than she used to be. Sometimes he liked that, enjoyed it when she fought back. He glared at her, studying her face for clues. He decided she was telling the truth.

‘In future, just let me know if you’re not going to be around,’ he snapped.

‘Yes, Sir,’ she replied sarcastically and gave a mock salute. He would slap her for that right there if they weren’t in the middle of a crowded pub with so many witnesses; including their son who, Nathan noticed, was watching the whole exchange.