Dexter let out a huge sigh. ‘I wasn’t trying to put you in your place. I was trying to make you see that all this is just a clash of cultures. You can’t ask the entire county to change for you, but if you’re aware of how you come across to people, maybe you can tweak things and enjoy your time here a lot more. Look, a few of us are going for drinks after work again tonight. Why don’t you join us? I know it’s not your usual scene, but it might do you good. Call it integrating, if you like.’

Caroline had been biting her lip for a while, and was in no mood to consider drinks and jollities. ‘I’m fine, thanks,’ she said. ‘Maybe another time.’

12

Caroline awoke the next morning with a now-familiar roiling sensation in the pit of her stomach. The nausea came and went and could largely be managed, but sometimes the queasiness made its intentions quite clear. She opened the door of the ensuite bathroom, fell to her knees and vomited into the toilet. It had been a couple of weeks since she’d felt this bad, but she’d been expecting it to return. She could almost set her clock by it — the constant reminder that things didn’t always go as planned.

Ten minutes later, once the spell had passed, she got herself washed and dressed and made her way downstairs. Mark was waiting in the kitchen for her.

‘Boys, why don’t you nip through to the playroom for a bit? You can even watch some telly if you like. Special treat.’

Caroline knew immediately that Mark wanted to have words with her. He’d never broken the no-TV-before-school rule before. She watched as Archie and Josh disappeared from the kitchen and headed down the hallway and into the playroom. It had been listed as the dining room on the floor plan when they’d looked at the house, but the large kitchen extension with space for its own ten-seater dining table meant the other room was always destined to be filled with toys and junk.

‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, looking at Mark.

‘Are you alright? I mean… is everything okay?’

‘Of course it is,’ she replied. ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’

‘I heard you being sick.’

‘Oh, that. I don’t know what that was. Probably something I ate yesterday. It was weird, but it’s passed now. I’ll keep an eye on it, but really, I wouldn’t worry.’

‘Caroline, it’s not the first time. I’ve heard you being sick a few times recently. In the mornings.’

She didn’t want to lie to Mark by telling him he was mistaken. There was a difference between not telling someone something and actively lying to them. ‘It’s fine. Probably just stress or a tummy bug or something.’

‘It’s been happening a lot.’