Thanking God that he'd gone, she checked the time - nine-thirty. What would today bring? she wondered as she climbed out of bed and drew the curtains. What indeed? Slipping into her dressing gown as she descended the stairs, her heart leaped as the doorbell rang. Pulling her gown tightly across her firm breasts, praying that it wasn't John calling for early-morning sex, she opened the front door. 'Oh, hi, Natalie!' she greeted her young neighbour. 'Come in!' 'Thanks. I haven't seen you since you got back from the hypnosis course and I was wondering how you got on?' 'Come through, I'll put the kettle on and tell you all about it,' Marianne replied, leading the girl into the kitchen. Sitting at the table, Natalie rested her chin on her fist, gazing at Marianne in anticipation. Her blonde bob framing her pretty face, her full red lips curling into a smile, her blue eyes sparkling, she urged Marianne to tell her everything. 'I've gone and done something very silly,' Marianne confessed, switching the kettle on and joining her friend at the table.
