She was shaking from head to foot, and she had no real idea of how she had driven home. The entire journey had been a pain-fuelled blur of fighting back unwanted memories whilst surge after surge of panic and anger had washed through her. ‘Kate!’ Kate tried to looked relaxed and smile as Carol, her friend and neighbour, came hurrying towards her. ‘What are you doing back so early?’ Carol asked, adding teasingly, ‘Did the interview go so well that the new boss gave you the rest of the day off?’ Kate opened her mouth to make a suitably light-hearted response, but to her chagrin she could feel her lips starting to tremble as emotions overwhelmed her. ‘I’ve handed in my notice,’ she told Carol shakily. ‘I... I had to... My...the new boss is my ex-husband!’ Tears filled her eyes. She was shaking so violently she could have been in shock, Kate recognised distantly. ‘Come on, let’s get you inside,’ she heard Carol announcing in a motherly voice.
