The woman emerged a few minutes later, flushed with delight. The dress was too tight for her. She'd obviously had trouble with the zip and her bosom was spilling over in the most alarming way, but at least she had it on. She looked at herself in one of the full-length mirrors, smiling as she turned this way and that. 'Ooh, I have to have this,' she said. Once again the daughter winced.

Casting me an apologetic look she said, 'Mum! You look like something out of a pantomime.'

Her mother rounded on her. 'Shut up, Norma! You've got no fashion sense and anyway, you're just jealous!' She turned to me. 'Every bloke she gets dumps her after a fortnight,' she said nastily. The daughter flounced out of the shop. I could almost feel Camilla's eyes burning into the back of my neck and a few moments later, she emerged from the staffroom, a false smile plastered onto her face.

'I'm sure we can do better than that for you, madam,' she said.

The woman shook her head. 'Oh no, I've set my heart on this one,' she said. 'And don't you worry: I shall recommend your shop to all my friends.'

She changed back into her own clothes as I packed up the hideous dress, feeling Camilla's fury just waiting to erupt the moment the customer left the shop.

As the tinkling notes of the Wedding March door chime died, she started spitting venom.

'What on earth did you think you were doing?' she stormed. 'That that awful woman will tell everyone she bought the dress here. My reputation will be ruined!'

I raised my eyebrows. 'Well, it was for sale. And she was a very satisfied customer.'

'Do you honestly think I want her kind of customer?' Her eyes flashed. 'If I'd been here I would have put her off. I was going to take that wretched thing home tonight,' she said. 'I wish I'd done it weeks ago. I should have burnt it!'

'Well, you didn't, and now it's sold and you've got the money for it,' I told her blandly.

Her eyes narrowed. 'You did it on purpose, didn't you?'

I smiled at her. 'Well, you did ask for it,' I said. 'You and your high-handed ways. If you think you can speak to me as though I'm your inferior and get away with it, you've got another think coming!'

'How dare you!' Her face turned a peculiar shade of puce and as she spoke, flecks of spit landed on my jacket. 'Get out of my shop this minute. You're dismissed! Do you hear me? Get out!'

'Not until you've paid me,' I said, standing my ground. 'If you refuse, I shall take it further and we don't want to ruin your reputation even more, do we?'

Practically fizzing with anger, she went behind the desk and opened the till, s.n.a.t.c.hing a handful of notes she almost threw at me. She was flexing her fingers as she glared at me, and I looked at the long scarlet talons and decided that it was time to make my exit before she scratched my eyes out. As I left the shop I glanced at my watch. If I caught a bus now I'd be right on time for my date with the Daily Sphere.

The meeting was more than successful. I made the most of Paul Fortune's scam and the mess he'd landed me and everyone else in. The editor was enthusiastic and offered me a full page spread in the Sunday edition, complete with photograph. It meant that everyone I knew would get to hear of my humiliation but the fee I managed to negotiate more than made up for that. When I got back to the bedsit, I texted Di.

Thanks to your brill idea I'm on the up again. See you soon Lou.

After I'd pressed 'send' I sat looking at my list of contacts then, on impulse, I highlighted Mark's number. He'd given up trying to contact me and now I knew why.

Congratulations, Mark! I tapped in. Love, Lou.

At least he'd know I was still thinking of him.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Susan was washing up her breakfast things on Sunday morning when the phone rang. She pulled off her rubber gloves and went into the living room to answer it.

'Hi, Mum, it's me, Karen. Have you seen the paper this morning?'

'No, I haven't been up very long. I'm still in my dressing gown. Why?'

'You do have the Sphere, don't you?'

'On Sundays, yes, I have to confess that I like the sensational stories they publish.'

'Well, there's none as sensational as the one on page three,' Karen went on. She sounded excited. 'Just go and get it, Mum. Have a look now while I'm on the phone.'

Mystified, Susan picked up the paper from the coffee table and unfolded it, Spreading it out, she turned the pages. There, on page three, the face of her stepdaughter smiled up at her. Louise! But what...? She scanned the headline and the story beneath and gasped.

'Well have you found it?' Karen sounded impatient at the other end of the line.

'Yes, I've found it. It says that the show she was supposed to be opening in turned out to be a huge confidence trick.' Susan was still running one forefinger down the page. 'Oh my G.o.d! It also says that she put it says here her life savings into the project and that she's lost the lot!'

'Have you been holding out on us, Mum? Did she tell you any of this last time she was with you?'

'No. Just that there was a problem and that there'd be a delay with the opening.'

'She's such a liar, Mum.'

Susan was shaking her head. 'It must mean that she's lost everything that her father left her. She wouldn't want to admit it, would she? Poor Louise. What a terrible blow for her.'

'Mum! You can't be serious. She richly deserved this. She's a nightmare. You know she is.'

'I know she has an unfortunate habit of upsetting people but you have to admit that this is something you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.'

'Want to bet?' Karen said, half to herself. 'Well, I just hope that she isn't going to descend on you again, taking advantage of your good nature. Promise me you'll say no if she rings and asks you to take her in again.'

Susan bridled. 'I'm promising you nothing of the sort, Karen. I shall do as I think fair and right when and if it arises.'

'Well, on your own head be it. Don't say you haven't been warned, Mum.'

'I won't.' Susan waited a moment then asked, 'Is everything all right there with you and Simon, I mean?'

'Of course. Why do you ask?'

'Don't be nave, Karen. You know perfectly well why I'm asking. Have you resigned yourself to staying at home with Peter?'

'No, not completely. I've said I'll do the odd spot of tutoring. Not full-time, of course. Just when they're stuck for someone.'

'And is Simon all right with that?'

'Mum I'm not a slave. Simon is my husband, not my keeper. I do wish you'd update to twenty-first century thinking.'

'Perhaps it's not me you need to convince,' Susan said. 'Anyway, thanks for ringing, Karen. I hope you feel that Louise's stroke of disastrous bad luck has vindicated you in some way. I'll have to go now, I need to get dressed.'

Susan sat thinking for a few minutes after hanging up. Louise had been so convinced that this play was her big break-through. She must be devastated. On impulse, she lifted the receiver again and dialled Louise's mobile number. After a few minutes Louise answered.

'Hi, Susan.'

'I've just seen the article in the Sunday Sphere,' Susan said. 'How awful for you and all the rest of the cast. You must be so upset and disappointed. Did you know about this when you visited last time?'

'Well, yes, I did actually.'

'And you never said a thing. How are you managing, dear? Did you lose all your money?'

'Quite a lot of it, yes, but don't worry, Susan. I had a temporary job and the paper paid me well for the article. Of course, everyone will know now that I ended up with the proverbial egg on my face, but never mind.'

'Have they caught this man this Fortune person?'

'No and I'm not holding my breath that they will. He's left the country and covered his tracks pretty well.'

'Do you have a place to stay? Will you be able to find another job?'

'I'm staying with Dianne at the moment. We've made up our little quarrel. My agent, Harry, put money into the show too and it's put him out of business so I have to find a new agent.'

Susan sighed. 'Oh dear, what a disaster for you all! Louise have you heard any more from your birth mother?'

'No and I don't want to. That's a closed chapter as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, if she's read the article, she will have lost interest in me by now. Thanks for ringing, Susan. I appreciate your concern.'

'Not at all. You know where I am, don't you, if you need me?'

'Yes, and thanks again. It's nice to know there's someone on my side.'

'What about your young man the one you told me about? He was in the show too, wasn't he?'

'Yes, he was, but that's all over, Susan.'

'Oh. I'm sorry to hear that, dear.'

Susan hung up with a sigh. Whatever Louise had done in the past, it was certainly catching up with her now. She thought briefly of the rebellious child she had taken on all those years ago when she married Frank. Louise hadn't been easy to bring up, especially once she reached p.u.b.erty. There was a time when it seemed that she would never have a normal life, but somehow she'd put all the distress she had suffered in her youth aside and made a life for herself. It was true that she'd become a difficult and unpredictable woman, but she'd suffered so much in her young life that Susan tried to make allowances. Maybe the trauma and the underlying sense of loss would never leave her.

It was two days later that Karen rang again.

'Mum can you do me the most amazing favour?' She rattled on before Susan had time to reply. 'The things is, this agency, you know the one that offered me the job, need me to do some work for them today.'

'And you have no one to babysit?'

'Not at such short notice. It would only be for the morning, Mum. I'd be so grateful.'

'Does Simon know?'

'What's that got to do with anything?'

'I'll take that as a no, then.'

'What he doesn't know can't hurt him. I really haven't got time to discuss it now. Can you have Peter or can't you, Mum?'

'I suppose so. When and where do you want me?'

'I'll pop him round to you on my way. Have to go now. See you soon.'

Karen's visit was swift and brief. She handed a bewildered-looking Peter over unceremoniously. 'I've left the buggy downstairs by the front entrance,' she said breathlessly. 'It's a lovely morning so if you take him to the park I'll meet you there say, by the cafe at one o'clock. OK?' And before Susan could confirm that this was convenient for her Karen was already halfway down the stairs.

Peter popped his thumb into his mouth and looked up at his grandmother. 'Mummy gone.'

Susan bent to pick him up. 'Yes, darling. Mummy's gone but she'll be back again soon. Have you had any breakfast?'

His little face brightened. 'Poddidge?'

'Yes, Granny'll make you some porridge and then we'll go to the park, shall we?'

As Karen had said, it was a lovely morning and Susan let Peter walk beside the buggy down to the lake. She'd brought stale bread and they bought a bag of corn which Peter delightedly threw to the ducks. They went to the playground and Peter went on a swing a baby one this time and sat on Susan's lap for a gentle ride on the roundabout. At the cafe they each had an ice cream, after which Peter began to look decidedly sleepy. Susan put him into the buggy and tucked his blanket round him, and by the time they had walked across the park to the bowling green, he was fast asleep. Grateful for five minutes' respite, she sat down on one of the benches to watch the elderly men playing their sedate game. The warm sunshine made her drowsy too and her eyelids had closed when suddenly she heard someone say her name.

'Susan.'

She opened her eyes to find Ted standing in front of her. 'Good morning, sleepyhead.'

Her heart leapt and she felt the warm colour stain her cheeks. 'I wasn't asleep,' she said. 'It's just the sun. It's very warm and and dazzling.'

'Of course it is.' He chuckled and sat down beside her. 'Young Peter looks cosy.'

'Yes.' She sat up straight. 'I we were just going, as a matter of fact.'

'Back to the flat? Mind if I walk with you?'

Susan glanced surrept.i.tiously at her watch and sighed. It was almost half past twelve. Karen would be here in half an hour. She couldn't go now. 'No, not back to the flat,' she told him. 'Karen is picking Peter up at the cafe at one o'clock. I was going to walk across there in a minute.'

'Then I'll come with you.' He looked at her searchingly. 'That is if you've no objections.'

'There's really no need,' she said stiffly.

He laid a hand on her arm. 'Susan, please. Surely at our age there's no need for us to keep up this ...' He shook his head. 'Whatever you want to call it.'

'No well.'

'I've missed you very much these last weeks.'

She turned to look at him. 'I thought you'd found a new companion.'

He smiled. 'The lady you saw helping me on the allotment was a fellow gardener's wife,' he explained. 'They saw me struggling to keep your plot going as well as mine and offered to help.'

Susan bit her lip. 'Oh. I see.'

'There's a lot you don't see, my dear,' he said. 'And that's all down to me. I should have been more upfront with you. My only excuse is that I didn't want to frighten you away. If you'll just let me ...'