They only slept together that one time, and that seemed right. He was a wealthy, successful older man; she was a young woman with a tragic past. What they gave each other was balanced, was perfect.

What remained with her was the image of an adult Nick Ritchie at his side, like some kind of dynasty. She couldn’t imagine what Nick looked like now, so she googled him and found a photograph on the Financial Logistics website. He had broadened out; he looked confident and muscular, pleasant. Angus had talked about him a lot and she didn’t like it. The Moodys had been her family friends, not Nick’s. He had insinuated himself in there, and now he was taking what should have been hers and her brothers’. Angus hadn’t offered jobs or mentoring to Rory or Alex, she noticed. He had shown no interest at all in them.

Angus had let fall enough to allow her to stalk Nick online and off and build a picture of his life. It was so much better than hers. He was more than financially secure, he had a beautiful house, a pretty woman at his side, and the look of someone for whom success has come easily.

It was simple enough to find herself a snug little house close to where Nick lived when she sold the flat she and Ben had bought together. It was a probate sale and unmodernized, so she could afford to buy it outright.

There was no problem getting Kai into Cedar Heights either. It was oversubscribed at the bottom, but by Year 6 the classes had thinned out, with families moving out of London. Yes, she had to congratulate herself. She had been stuck in a rut for years, but now she was being proactive; creating an opportunity to have the life she wanted and deserved. If that meant Nick Ritchie suffered, she could live with that.

GRACE

Friday, 4 May 2018

‘I’M SORRY,’ TIM SAYS. ‘REALLY, I AM. WE COULD HAVE handled that better.’

‘Understatement of the year.’

I could tell him he’s weak. I could tell him I can’t stand to even look at him, but I really don’t have the energy. With Cora out of the house, the fight has gone out of me.

‘I’m cooking supper.’ His hangdog expression almost makes me smile, but not quite. I’m still in shock.

‘Thank you.’