‘Oh, that? Maybe in a few months, I’m way too busy to take time off work now.’

There it was, work again. Maybe it was at the root of it all. There was no point in asking him; if there was a problem at work, he’d not talk about it. He became stupidly macho about things like that. To her, it was simple, if there was a problem, he needed to sort it out… sort it out or leave. He was an experienced finance investment manager; he’d easily find something else. And if he didn’t, they’d cleared the mortgage on the house a few years ago, they’d easily manage for a while on her salary. But she knew his stubborn pride wouldn’t accept that situation.

She needed to find out what was going on. Her friend, Petra, knew someone who worked in a different department in the same company. She’d get her to do a bit of digging.

After a leisurely walk around St Luke’s, Jack wanted to go for a drink. She’d have preferred to go home, chill in front of the TV and have a glass of wine. Instead, she forced her lips into a smile and nodded enthusiastically. ‘Good idea,’ she said, wondering at how easily lies came these days.

O’Dea’s was a popular pub, and always busy. If she’d hoped Jack might open up over a pint or two, her hopes were dashed when they were greeted by an acquaintance of his, a man she’d met a few times and found amusing when sober and a bore when drunk.

Luckily, this time he was sober. ‘Jack, Molly,’ he greeted them, drawing them into the group he was with, making introductions, names fired around, forgotten as soon as heard.

Molly smiled at everyone, accepted the drink bought for her and perched on a stool. She’d stay for one, then make her excuses. She saw the signs; these men were there for the long haul.

Apart from the occasional nod and smile, she wasn’t called to contribute to the conversation and was able to concentrate on her own thoughts. When she got home, she’d ring Petra.

It was time to take the first step and find out what was going on.

10

Molly made her excuses after one drink, noticing that Jack, on his second pint, looked settled for the evening.

‘Don’t be too late,’ she said into his ear before she left.

‘I won’t be, I’ll have one more and follow you.’

It seemed she wasn’t the only one to whom lies came easily these days. With a casual wave to the rest, she headed out onto the street, the light already fading, the darkening clouds promising rain before long. It made her quicken her pace and she was home as thunder rolled and the first crack of lightning shot across the sky.