‘I think it’s sensible,’ Erin said. ‘If things go badly and you break up, it makes things very awkward at work. If you like your job, I say look elsewhere.’

‘I’m not looking anyway,’ Lou said. ‘I’m not in the market for a relationship at the moment.’

‘Bad break-up?’ Erin asked shrewdly.

Lou gave a wry smile. ‘You could say that.’

‘Ah, right. Once bitten…’

‘So, what plans do we have for mid-term break?’ Victoria said. ‘It’ll be here before we know it. We must get the kids together at some stage.’

From the abrupt change of subject, Lou suspected Victoria could tell she was uncomfortable with the conversation. She was relieved as the chat shifted to the upcoming school holiday. She was also happy that it seemed to be taken as read that Jack would be included in whatever plans they made and shehad been assimilated into their little gang. It felt good to be welcomed so readily after this morning and when they parted ways with promises to arrange something soon, Lou felt sure they really meant it and it wasn’t just empty words.