Damn you, Harry, she thought as she watched him leave the kitchen for his shower, no doubt content that when he came back she’d help him gloss over his problem. He really did have no idea how her last case had broken her, but at the same time she couldn’t stand by and watch her husband be ruined.

Janie knew what was likely to happen. The woman who had made the complaint would likely be gone in the next few weeks, but it didn’t mean the problem would go away.

She wondered whether Mia Anderson was the type of person who wouldn’t let up, as Harry had suggested. And Janie made a decision. She was going to ask Mia out to lunch.

Chapter Seventeen

It was a sunny Saturday when Laura’s NCT group of five couples and their young babies met for a picnic. Nancy had been the one to set up the meet, and had chosen a spot in Brockenhurst by the river, where could they park up nearby and go for a walk. It was organised to perfection, but that was Nancy – she never left anything to chance.

For the next two days Laura had Bobby and Nate to herself and she was going to make the most of this precious family time. ‘We could stop at a pub for dinner on the way home,’ she suggested as Nate drove through the New Forest. ‘We haven’t been out to eat for so long.’ She couldn’t even remember the last time they hadn’t sat on the sofa and eaten in front of the TV. The thought of ordering off a menu and having a large glass of chilled white wine at the end of the day already felt exciting.

‘Let’s see how it goes, shall we?’ Nate murmured. ‘Bobby’s full of cold, and I’m shattered, Laura.’

She flipped her head back against the seat rest and turned to look out of the window. ‘We won’t be late. I meant we can go at five-ish, on the way home.’

‘We’re out for lunch already.’

Laura sighed.

‘Look, I’m just saying let’s see, that’s all. We don’t have to plan the whole day.’

I do, she wanted to say. Because the thought of going home, after the picnic that she wasn’t particularly bothered about going to, depressed her for some reason. ‘I’m working all week and I want a treat,’ she muttered. She didn’t want the weekend to pass and for Monday to come round and for them not to have done as much as they could. ‘I thought you’d be happy to get out of the house.’

Nate glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

‘What?’

‘Nothing,’ he muttered. ‘It’s fine. If you really want to go out, we’ll go out.’