I nudged him sharply in the ribs. 'Oh, shut up, Mark!'

I was relieved when Paul Fortune arrived at that moment and called for us all to gather round. 'This will be the last rehearsal for us here,' he announced. 'I'm giving you all next week off and then we're going down to Bournemouth where we'll have a week's rehearsal with the full orchestra. There'll be costume fittings as well and we open the following week.'

I felt a flutter of antic.i.p.ation in my stomach, and Mark and I exchanged excited looks.

After the rehearsal was over, we went to the pub. As we sat down with our drinks I looked at Mark. 'So we're really on our way!'

'Looks like it.' He took a long pull of his beer and set the gla.s.s down with a sigh of satisfaction. 'What are you going to do with your week's holiday?' he asked.

I shrugged. 'Not a lot. I'm practically out of money.'

He looked surprised. 'Really?'

I nodded. 'Down to my last few hundred and I don't suppose I'll be getting any refund on my investment for quite a while.'

'That's true.' He took another swig from his gla.s.s and looked at me, one eyebrow raised. 'If you're struggling I can let you have a loan.'

'No, I'll be all right,' I protested. 'Just have to go easily, that's all.'

'There'll be digs to pay for on tour, don't forget,' he reminded me.

'I know. I think I can handle that OK.'

'Well, you know the help is there if you need it.'

I looked at him. Mark was such a good friend but was he too good to be true? Could I really trust him? I didn't want him thinking he could start calling in favours and I'd no intention of dropping my guard. 'As a matter of fact, I thought I might go home for a few days,' I said. 'Not that it's really what you'd call home, but Karrie and Susan are all the family I've got.'

'I'm sure they'd be more than happy to see you,' Mark said heartily.

I nodded, doubting his optimism. 'How's your sister?' I asked, changing the subject.

'She's fine. She had an interview for a job last week and she heard this morning that she's got it. It's secretary at the local primary school which will fit in nicely with the kids' school holidays. She's seen a little house that she likes too.'

My heart lifted. 'Right, so you'll have the flat to yourself again when we come back from the tour.'

He smiled. 'Are you still interested in moving in?'

Something in me the contrary side of my nature resented his taking it for granted that I would jump at the chance. 'Well, we'll see,' I said. 'I might move back in with Di.'

To my satisfaction he looked crestfallen. 'Oh. I thought you'd given your flat up.'

'I did.' I searched my mind for a way out of the corner I'd backed myself into; trying to remember the last thing I told him. 'But Di took on the lease as I told you,' I said as inspiration struck. 'So it's still an option.' Sometimes I amazed myself by my quick thinking.

He drained his gla.s.s. 'Well, the offer's there if you change your mind. When are you going home?'

'I'll have to ring and ask when it's convenient,' I told him.

'Well, give me a ring when you get back and we'll arrange to drive down to Bournemouth together.'

Back at the bedsit, I rang Susan's number, but I got the answerphone. I left her a message to ring me and set about making myself a sandwich. I'd just put the kettle on for coffee when my phone rang. I picked it up.

'Hi, Susan, that was quick. ...'

'It's not Susan,' a male voice said.

'Oh, then who ...'

'This is Steve Harris your brother.'

My heart gave a jump. 'Oh er h.e.l.lo.'

'You don't sound very pleased to hear from me.' His voice was deep and coa.r.s.e with a strong c.o.c.kney accent. I had a feeling of foreboding.

'What can I do for you?' I asked stupidly.

He chuckled at the other end of the line. 'Now, there's an offer. I thought we could meet,' he said. 'I think it would be nice to get to know one another, don't you?'

I bit my lip. This was something I had to nip in the bud. 'Forgive me but I can't really see the point,' I said.

'What? You're saying that you don't want to meet your little brother after all these years?' The voice held a mocking tone.

'Until yesterday I didn't even know you existed,' I told him. 'And you're not my brother only a half-brother.'

'Blood's blood,' he said. 'We share the same mum. She thought you were a bit of all right,' he said. 'In fact it was her idea that you and I got together. She thought we'd have a lot in common.'

'I doubt it,' I told him. 'As a matter of fact, I'm going away tomorrow and after that I'll be away on tour so I can't really see an opportunity for us to meet.'

'Oh dear, that's a pity,' he said smoothly.

'Yes, but there, it can't be helped,' I said, thinking that by the time we came back to London he'd have given up, with any luck. 'Goodbye.' I ended the call quickly and switched my phone off so that he couldn't ring back. 'd.a.m.ned cheek,' I muttered as I made myself a coffee. No doubt he thought he could get some money out of me. Well, he had another think coming.

Susan didn't ring me back and in the end, I decided to just turn up. Maybe she'd be annoyed but it was only for a few days and I really didn't fancy staying in the grotty bedsit for a whole week with nothing to do. I took the train next morning and arrived in Bridgehampton just before lunch.

Susan didn't look surprised when she opened the door and found me outside.

Her expression was more one of resignation.

'Louise how nice. Come in.'

'I did ring you yesterday,' I told her as I walked in through the door. 'I left a message. Didn't you get it?'

She shook her head. 'I don't always check,' she said.

I didn't believe a word. 'Is it convenient for me to stay for a few days?' I asked.

She looked at me and then at the small bag I was carrying. 'A few?'

'Just until the weekend,' I said. 'We're off down to Bourne-mouth next Monday to begin our tour so I'll need time to pack and leave the flat tidy.'

She didn't even try to conceal her relief. 'Oh, well, that's fine then,' she said. 'I'm afraid it will have to be the sofa again.'

'Yes, that's fine.' I unzipped my bag and pulled out the bottle of rose wine I'd brought as a sweetener. I handed it to her. 'I got you this, Susan,' I said with a smile. 'I know it's one of your favourites.'

She took it from me, looking a bit taken aback, and when she spoke, her voice had softened a little. 'Oh, that was thoughtful of you. I was just going to make a meal. We can have it with that.'

'Better still, why don't you let me take you out to lunch as a thank-you for having me at short notice?' I suggested.

She smiled. 'Oh, thank you, Louise. That would be lovely. I'll get my coat.'

Over lunch I heard all about Karrie and Simon clearing off to Paris at Easter and leaving her literally holding the baby. I thought it was a bit thick of them but I decided to play it cool.

'Well, I know how you love little Peter so I don't suppose you minded,' I said.

We'd drunk a bottle of wine between us and it had loosened her inhibitions somewhat. She frowned.

'Of course I didn't mind having him,' she said. 'We had a lovely time together, the two of us. What I did mind was that Karen felt she had to manipulate me into it. If she'd asked outright I'd still have said yes.'

'Oh well, no doubt she had her reasons,' I said tactfully. 'And what about you? What have you been up to since I was here last?'

Her face clouded. 'Well, to tell the truth, dear, I've had a bit of a disappointment.'

'Over what?'

She looked up at me. 'Over a man actually.'

I raised an eyebrow at her. 'A man, eh? Well, you dark old horse, Susan.' I looked at her, my head on one side. 'So are you going to tell me about it?'

I got the whole story about the duplicitous Ted and his double life; about the lovely time she'd enjoyed with him only to discover his deception. When she'd finished pouring it all out to me, she looked up.

'I expect you think I'm a foolish old woman.'

I reached across the table to pat her hand. 'Of course I don't. The truth is, Susan, we women never seem to learn, do we?'

She sighed. 'I suppose not. The truth is I only ever loved one man and that was your father. I'm not used to the kind of games people play nowadays.'

'I met someone I used to be at drama school with,' I told her. 'He's in the same show and I thought we'd get together again. We spent Christmas together and he even asked me to move in with him. Just when I'd decided to say yes, he announced that he'd moved his sister and her two kids in.'

'Oh dear, why was that?' Susan looked concerned.

I shrugged. 'Search me. At a guess, I suppose he regretted asking me and moved them in to make things impossible.'

Susan shook her head. 'How devious of him. And now you have to see him every day work with him. How uncomfortable.'

'Oh, we're still friends,' I told her lightly. 'We have to be under the circ.u.mstances.'

The following morning, Susan went out to the supermarket. She'd asked me to go too but I fancied a lie-in, even though it was only on the sofa. Soon after she'd gone, I got up and made myself some toast and coffee. I was just about to get into the shower when the bell rang. I dragged on my dressing gown and went to answer it. Outside stood a tall, elderly man carrying a large bouquet of flowers. I guessed him to be the notorious Ted.

'Good morning,' I said frostily. 'Can I help you?'

He looked a bit taken aback. 'Oh is Susan Mrs Davies in?'

'No, she isn't,' I said. 'I'm Louise, her stepdaughter. I take it you are Ted.'

He nodded. 'That's right.'

'Well, I can tell you for nothing that you're wasting your time,' I told him. 'I've heard all about you. She wants nothing more to do with you and your devious ways so you can take your flowers and give them to the next gullible woman you pick up on the bus!' And with that I slammed the door in his astonished face.

When Susan arrived home I told her about Ted's visit. Her cheeks coloured.

'Oh. What did he say?'

I shrugged. 'Not a lot. I sent him on his way told him what he could do with his flowers.'

'Flowers?' she enquired weakly.

'Yes. He was carrying this enormous bunch of flowers. Daffodils and irises and those vulgar stripy pink things. I've always hated those, haven't you?'

'Tulips? No. I quite like them actually.' She was unpacking the shopping, her back to me. 'What else did he say?'

'Nothing. I didn't give him the chance,' I told her. 'I don't think he'll be bothering you again though. If he didn't get the message he must be thick!'

'I see.' She turned to me. 'I take it you were rude to him?'

'I only told him you didn't want any more to do with him.'

'Well, I wish you hadn't,' Susan said. 'I wish you'd told him I was out and left it at that.'

I stared at her. 'After what he did? You must be mad if you're even thinking of taking him back after that.'

'But it's my decision, isn't it?' To my astonishment, her eyes filled with tears and she fumbled in her sleeve for a handkerchief. 'What I told you was in confidence and in future, I'd be grateful if you'd mind your own business, Louise.'

'But you said you were really upset and ...' But she'd disappeared into her bedroom and closed the door firmly behind her. I sighed. Really! There was no pleasing some people.

The atmosphere was distinctly frosty after Ted's visit. Susan was distant hardly speaking to me, and the following afternoon, I decided to go and say h.e.l.lo to Karrie. When I announced my intention to Susan she seemed relieved.

'She should be home from school by four,' she said. 'But she usually picks up some shopping before coming home so I should give her another half-hour if I were you.'

I took myself off to the pictures after lunch, unable to stand Susan's glum face any longer. There was hardly anyone else in the multiplex and the film was mediocre. I came out feeling depressed. Maybe it hadn't been the best idea to come home after all. Even a visit to my bourgeois sister was preferable to going home to Susan. I took the bus to Sunnyside Drive and arrived at Karrie's soon after half past four. I rang the front doorbell and waited but no one came. I rang again still no reply. But Simon's car was in the drive so I knew that someone had to be at home. I walked round the side of the house and through the back gate. The kitchen looked out over the back garden and I took a peek through the window. What I saw gave me a start. There in the middle of the kitchen, Simon was embracing a blonde girl. She had her head on his shoulder and he was holding her close and murmuring in her ear. I jumped back before either of them spotted me. My G.o.d! Simon of all people. And that old cliche: the husband and the au pair! Poor Karrie! Did she even suspect? I tiptoed away as quietly as I could, closing the side gate behind me. Walking down the tree-lined avenue my head was in a whirl. Karrie and Simon. The perfect couple. Who'd have thought it?

I was almost at the end of the road when Karrie's little car came round the corner. She saw me at once and pulled into the kerbside, winding down the window.

'Louise. Mum said you were coming for a visit. Were you coming to see us?'

I opened the pa.s.senger door and climbed in. 'I've just been,' I told her. 'Karrie, I'm so sorry but I've got something to tell you.'

'To tell me?' She looked alarmed. 'What are you talking about? Is it Mum?'

'No, she's fine. Look, I don't quite know how to tell you this, but I've just called at yours. No one answered the door so I went round to the back. Karrie Simon was in the kitchen. He was kissing your au pair girl.'