She pushed the unpleasant thoughts from her mind. George had paid his debt to society. He had a clean slate. They had built themselves a new life of sorts. After twenty years, maybe it was time to let go of the past.

‘Oh, Elaine, I hate Fridays, don’t you?’

Margaret Forrester sat down at Elaine’s table and slipped off her shoes.

‘My feet will end up in the Guinness Book Of Records one of these days. The most swollen feet in the world.’

Elaine laughed at her friend.

‘Why do you insist on wearing those heels? Get yourself a pair of comfortable flats.’

‘No. My legs are me only vanity. I won’t let them go till I have to.’

Elaine shook her head. ‘Shall I get you a coffee?’

‘Oh, yes please, Elaine. And a bowl of cold water if they’ve got one.’

Elaine got her friend a coffee and they sat together chatting.

‘So where you off to on holiday then?’

Elaine shrugged.

‘Probably Bournemouth again.’

‘Oh, sod off, Elaine. No one goes to Bournemouth these days unless they go in a wheelchair. Why don’t you come to Spain with me and the girls? Sun, sand, sea, sex . . .’

Margaret did a little dance in her chair.

‘I can’t wait to get there! Last year we was in this hotel, right on the seafront, and next door was only a bloody parrot sanctuary. All bloody night the sodding things screeched. And you know Caroline from frozen foods? She threw all our shoes at them one night. Pissed out of our heads we was. We had to go and ask for them back the next day. It was a scream!’

Elaine smiled.

‘I don’t know, Margaret. George . . .’

‘Oh, balls to George! It’s only a hundred and twenty quid for the fortnight, full board. I know it’s in March and it’s not that hot. But, oh dear me, do we have a good time! Please come.’

For the first time in her life Elaine felt a surge of pleasure in doing the unexpected. George was quite capable of looking after himself.

Margaret put her hand on Elaine’s arm.

‘Come on, girl. Let your hair down before it’s too late.’

Elaine ran her tongue slowly over her teeth, then bit her lip. Margaret could see the indecision on her friend’s face.

‘All right then . . . I’ll go!’

Elaine began to laugh in excitement.

‘We’ll go and book it after work. That way you can’t change your mind.’

‘George will have a fit when I tell him.’

‘Let him! My old man did the first time, but as I said to him: “You only live once”.’

‘That’s the truth.’

Elaine bit her lip again. This time in excitement. Two whole weeks without George! Bliss . . .