‘Okay?’ he asked again, lifting her chin to meet his eyes. ‘It will be fine – I promise.’

‘Okay,’ replied Claire. She felt the relief that Chris would deal with it and hugged him hard. ‘I love you.’

‘I love you too,’ he said. ‘Now, is there any of that wine left for me?’ he asked, with a smile.

She’d smiled back then, feeling better than she had all afternoon and poured him a glass. Chris had gone in to talk to Joshua and her husband had come back out all smiles and reassurances. And just as Chris had promised, it had been sorted and Joshua didn’t get expelled. But later that evening, when Chris had gone to bed, she’d checked her phone, hoping that she’d missed his message, but there’d been nothing there.

*

Later that morning, still struggling with pain in her neck and shoulders, Claire dropped off the boys at their respective schools before driving into central Manchester to work. When she arrived in her office, she was surprised to see Rose already waiting for her. She was peering at the photo on Claire’s desk and didn’t hear Claire come in. It was only when Claire dropped her bag and coat on the chair with a thump that Rose turned in surprise.

‘Rose – what are you doing in here?’

‘Are those your kids?’ asked Rose, peering at the photo, ignoring the question.

‘Yes,’ replied Claire, not volunteering any more information.

‘What’s this one called?’ asked Rose, pointing to Claire’s eldest son.

‘Joshua,’ replied Claire.

‘Handsome,’ remarked Rose but the compliment clanged clumsily.

‘Rose – again – why are you in my office?’ asked Claire.

‘You told me to come in early, so we could run through the questions again and your new receptionist told me to wait in here.’ Rose’s thin coat was soaked through.

New receptionist?

Rose was right that Claire had told her to come in early, but she was pretty sure she’d said a few minutes early and not a whole hour. The meeting wasn’t until ten. Still, even if that was the case, Rose should be waiting in reception.

‘Follow me,’ instructed Claire. She led Rose through to a vacant meeting room, told her to take off her coat, and make herself comfortable. Then she instructed one of the interns to make Rose a hot drink while Claire went to the reception desk. It had been unmanned when Claire had first arrived but now she saw that there was indeed an unfamiliar face.

‘Good morning,’ greeted Claire. ‘My name’s—’

The phone rang and the new receptionist held up one hand to Claire while picking up the phone with the other.

Claire raised an eyebrow but waited until the call had finished. Finally, the receptionist put down the phone and looked at Claire enquiringly. ‘Yes?’

Claire didn’t bother with any more platitudes. ‘Where’s Elaine today?’

‘Off sick. The agency sent me.’