“That’ll work, dear” said her mother. “But let’s go to a restaurant for a change. My treat.”

It was always Veronica’s treat on the rare occasions mother and daughter dined out together. Faye hadn’t said anything, but she sensed her mother knew how reluctant she was to spend Derek’s money. She might even have guessed her son-in-law liked it that way.

Veronica suggested the Woodcutter’s Garden Bistro.

“If we get there early, we can decide whether to sit inside, on the porch or in the garden depending on the weather,” she said.

It was a mild autumn day and the women were happy to follow the waitress to a shaded table tucked away near a tangled mass of climbing roses with a few late blooms holding out until winter. The flowers reminded Faye that her roses needed pruning and she was pleased to have at least one task to get to over the weekend.

They’d eaten and ordered cappuccinos when Faye excused herself and walked through the garden towards the restaurant building to use the bathroom.

“Through the door and to your left,” said the waitress, as she walked down the stairs with their coffee.

She saw Derek from the doorway, his lean head with its thick, wire-straight hair unmistakable. He was at a table against the wall on the far side of the room with a woman whose shoulder-length auburn hair fell forward, hiding half her face as she laughed at something Derek said. He leaned forward, lips still moving and placed his hand on hers.

Faye stared, holding her breath. Her mouth was dry and she felt cold. Why was she standing in the doorway? She shouldn’t be there. She shouldn’t have seen him. She should go. A waiter with a tray of desserts stepped in front of her and then stepped back.

“After you,” he said, indicating she should enter. “It’s that way,” he added, nodding his head to the left.

Knees shaking, she made her way to the bathroom. She stumbled into a stall, closed the door and leaned against it, breathing heavily. She tried to gather her thoughts. Perhaps she was mistaken. Maybe it wasn’t Derek but someone who resembled him? She heard the door swing open and someone go into the stall alongside her.

Faye stood up. She should get back to her mother before Veronica came looking for her and, God forbid, also saw Derek. Or the man who looked like Derek. She opened the door and, washing her hands, looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was pale. Her lipstick needed reapplying.