‘What are you implying, Donna? I can assure you I…’

‘Lighten up, woman. I was just joking.’

Suddenly I feel bad, I should have got that joke. Answered it with something witty. What is happening to me? ‘I’m sorry, Donna, I’m just a bit tired today.’

‘You were a bit tired yesterday too. What’s up, girl?’ Donna pulls a stool out, sits down and rests her arms on the island counter. Her eyes look straight into mine like she’s planning on going nowhere until I answer.

Should I tell her? Should I make Donna my confidante in this, my latest saga? One half of me wants to blurt it out. ‘I think Tom has a secret child.’ But the other half of me says, no. Say nothing. You can’t trust Donna. You don’t know her well enough to share your paranoia with her. Especially when you doubt it yourself.

‘I think Tom might have a child that he’s not telling me about.’ It’s out of my mouth before I have time to stop it.

‘What?’

Donna pulls the stool in closer to the counter top, her eyes unable to hide the shock, her head shaking in disbelief. Immediately I regret saying anything. This is just gossip to her. Why did I tell her? Donna must see the regret written all over my face because she stands up from the stool, walks over and hugs me close, squashing her ample boobs into my deflated ones.

‘If it is true, Sally, you will survive it. It’s not the worst thing in the world.’

I hold onto her hug, let some of my pain seep into her. Tears wet my face and I feel the burden of the last two days ease.

After a second cup of coffee, I find Donna’s cardigan, hand it to her and thank her for calling over.

‘We all have our troubles,’ she says. ‘It was my turn last year.’ Taking her cardigan, she walks out to the hallway. ‘He thought he could get away with it but I caught him, some girl in his office. Anyway, it’s over now. I hope.’

I’m shocked to hear this. I always thought the grass was at its greenest in Donna’s garden. ‘Jesus, Donna, I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say.’

‘There is nothing to say, Sal.’ She opens the door to leave, reminding me I’m a strong woman and I will get through this.

The door closes. I stand in the silence of my house and pray to God that Donna is right.

Chapter Eleven