Page 117 of Escape to the Country

Then they rushed Megan towards the back of the club and into the Ladies’ toilet.

‘We’ve come to stop you doing something you’re going to regret,’ said Annie, finally letting go of her arm.

Megan burst into tears almost immediately. ‘It’s too late,’ she sobbed.

‘You’ve slept with him already?’ said Annie, aghast.

‘No!’ said Megan. ‘I should never have come here. It seemed like a bit of fun on Facebook. But as soon as I got here it just felt horribly wrong.’

‘Do you know how lucky you are?’ Eleanor told her, grabbing her by the arms. ‘Have you any idea how great Neal is? How much he loves you?’

Megan nodded, still crying. ‘Gareth’s right though,’ she said, between sniffs. ‘I led him on.’

‘Forget about him,’ said Annie. ‘He’s a creep.’

‘I’ve got to get out of here,’ said Megan, suddenly looking panicked. ‘What if someone’s seen me? What if it gets back to Neal?’

‘Listen,’ said Eleanor, leaning across the sink to open a latch on the window. ‘There’s never any shame in going out of the bathroom window. Trust me, if I had followed my gut instinct and done the same thing, I’d have never ended up with Lucas two years ago.’

Megan’s brief laughter turned to tears once more. So they had a group hug before Eleanor and Annie each took one arm and helped Megan over the sink and out of the window.

Out in the car park, they ran across to Sam’s Range Rover that Annie had borrowed and went back to Eleanor’s house, where she made them hot chocolate, despite the warm night, and the three of them curled up on the cushions in the lounge, surrounded by various animals.

‘You’re going to stay here tonight,’ said Eleanor, stroking the kitten on her lap. ‘You can’t go home in this state. Mum’s out having a drink with Rose so it’s just us, okay? Nobody else needs to know.’

Megan nodded gratefully before taking a sip from her steaming mug. Her face was tear-stained and pale.

‘Talk to us,’ said Annie, in a soft tone. ‘What’s going on?’

Megan shrugged her shoulders. ‘I just got so bored. I mean, I love my children, but I miss my life before them. I know I was only in marketing, but at least I had grown-up conversations back then.’

‘Have you talked to Neal about this?’ asked Eleanor.

Megan shook her head. ‘No. I mean, he wouldn’t understand. Why would he? He gets to go out every day to work whilst I’m stuck at home.’

‘You don’t think he would be supportive?’ asked Annie.

‘I don’t know anymore,’ sighed Megan. ‘He’s always working so hard and so late. Does it make me a bad mother to feel like this? I shouldn’t be bored, should I? What’s wrong with me?’

Annie shook her head. ‘You have three children who are all healthy and happy. You deserve a bloody medal.’

‘She’s right,’ said Eleanor. ‘Besides, you can do something else as well as being a mum.’

‘We just need something that fits in with your family,’ said Annie.

‘We’ll think of something,’ Eleanor told her.

Megan nodded before her face suddenly distorted into panic. ‘What if he finds out about me meeting up with Gareth? What if he leaves me?’

‘Neal loves you,’ said Annie. ‘And he won’t find out.’

‘Not from us,’ said Eleanor, nodding in agreement. ‘You jump, we jump, remember?’

‘Thank god for you guys,’ said Megan, drawing them into a hug. ‘I love you both so much.’

‘We love you too,’ said Annie.

Eleanor nodded her agreement but, as always, those particular three words would never come.