first time – although it had required a certain amount of generosity on her part to understand why he was there while she was taking a bath. His glibly telling her he was with her a second time, though … Collecting her from the hospital, she reminded herself, with yet another stab of guilt. Had he been telling the truth? Had everything his ex-wife had told him been the truth? Sarah couldn’t know, but she was beginning to wonder. What she did know – which Joe appeared oblivious to – was that his ex was clearly angling to get back with him. No doubt he would tell her she was getting things out of perspective if she voiced that particular concern. Perhaps she was. She wasn’t sure she could trust her own instincts any more. She needed to stop doing this, trying to analyse everyone and everything, getting things wrong, it seemed. She needed to get on with her life instead, and let Joe do whatever he wanted to do with his. She had a child to care for. A child who might pick up on her maudlin mood if she moped about, which would make him miserable too.
‘Out we come,’ she said, lifting him from the car.
‘Is Joe coming to my party?’ Ollie asked as she steadied him on the pavement.
Sarah’s heart plummeted. He’d clearly bonded with him. She’d thought Joe had bonded with Ollie. She suspected that was what hurt most of all: that he’d turned out to be the sort of man who would let a child down. She’d left him a message about the party, but he hadn’t got back to her. Clearly he was otherwise engaged. ‘No, sweetheart.’ She took hold of Ollie’s hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘He’s on duty today, remember? I told you.’
‘Catching baddies.’ Ollie nodded, satisfied, and, charging ahead of her, tugged her on towards Steve and Laura’s house.
Or else comforting his wife. Her mind, which clearly couldn’t stop dwelling on Joe, conjured up that cosy scenario despite her determination not to go there. ‘That’s right,’ she agreed, sighing inwardly.
Ringing the doorbell, she pulled herself up. This was Ollie’s day, and she was going to be cheerful for his sake. After what Steve had told her about Laura, she felt she could relax a little more around her, which was some weight off her mind.
‘Hi,’ she said, her smile back in place as Laura opened the front door. She was a little taken aback, though, when she noted Laura’s pallid complexion. ‘Is everything all right?’ she asked. ‘You look a bit pale.’ She actually looked quite poorly. Also tearful, disconcertingly.
‘Yes. Sorry.’ Appearing to shake herself, Laura smiled and stepped back to allow her in. ‘My mother’s here, being her usual charming self,’ she said, as Sarah glanced past her up the hall.
‘Ah.’ Sarah nodded, understanding, as Laura indicated the kitchen with a despairing roll of her eyes. ‘I gathered you two were having a few problems when she first, um …’
‘Invited herself in?’ Laura finished, evidently guessing that Sarah had drawn her own conclusions about her mother’s bolshie behaviour. ‘We are. More than a few, I’m afraid.’ She sighed despondently, then bent to address Ollie. ‘Hello, birthday boy,’ she said more brightly, beaming him a smile. ‘Are you looking forward to your garden party?’
‘Yes,’ Ollie assured her, remembering his manners, bless him. His hesitant expression, though, told Sarah he wasn’t quite sure what a garden party was. ‘Is Lucas coming?’ he asked.
‘The little boy next door,’ Laura elucidated for Sarah’s benefit. ‘He is,’ she said to Ollie. ‘He’s looking forward to playing on your lovely new garden toys with you.’
More new toys? Sarah arched an eyebrow. Laura missed it, her attention diverted as Steve appeared from the kitchen. ‘Hiya, mate.’ He gave Ollie a wink and a smile. ‘Ready to get this party started?’
‘Yes!’ Ollie bolted delightedly in his direction.
‘Urgh.’ Groaning theatrically, Steve swept him up into his arms. ‘You’re growing so fast I can hardly lift you.’
‘That’s ’cos I’m a year bigger,’ Ollie informed him importantly.
‘You certainly are.’ Steve laughed, turning back to the kitchen.
‘Don’t forget his sunscreen,’ Laura called after him.
Steve glanced back over his shoulder. ‘I won’t,’ he said, unsmiling. Sarah couldn’t help noticing that Laura’s face seemed to be set in a scowl as she glanced after him. It looked as if they might have had words. She immediately felt bad. She hoped it was nothing to do with her seeming to be interfering in their