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would find a way. She wanted to go to him then. But she hung back.
    That was how she saw what she saw. Edward’s PA opened the doors of the conference room and they all began to file in. Brian and Stephanie walked in together and Louise was just a few steps behind. As they got to the doorway, she saw Brian reach out and slide a finger inside the cuff of Stephanie’s jacket and stroke her wrist.
    Louise stopped dead. She felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. Someone behind her bumped into her, and there was a flurry of apologies and laughter which carried her into the meeting, Somehow, she didn’t know how, she made it through the meeting and even gave herreport in an even, clear voice. As soon as they finished, she made an excuse about an urgent phone call, ran to her car and sped away.
    As soon as she got back to her branch, she shut her office door, then opened the filing cabinet. She had her employment contract on file, and she took it out to go through it carefully. She was enormously relieved to see that her notice period was only a calendar month. The contract did include a restraint of trade, but that only stipulated she couldn’t work for another printing business within a fifty-mile radius of Leeds for the next year. She’d be able to get a job in London, if anyone was mad enough to take on a pregnant single parent.
    Well, sooner rather than later, she said to herself. She pulled the computer keyboard closer and began to type:
    Dear Edward,
It is with great regret that I tender my resignation with immediate effect . . .
    She put in some gumph about a change in family circumstances and the need to be in London – that was roughly true – the baby was her family, after all – and signed off saying how much she’d enjoyed working at Barrett and Humphries. That was entirely true. She’d loved the challenges of her job: climbing the ladder, getting her own branch to run, making it one of the most successful in the group. She would miss it, and she would miss her staff, even tiresome Deidre from HR. No time forsentimentality, though. She printed the letter, signed it and popped it in an envelope. She’d drop it off at Head Office on her way home. Once the envelope was sealed, she felt an odd sense of relief, as if the plan was now in motion.
    She knew Edward wouldn’t just accept her resignation, so she was prepared for the call she received at home as soon as she got in that evening. She’d worked out a list of things to say: yes, her family definitely needed her. No, she couldn’t be persuaded to stay. No, it had nothing to do with dissatisfaction, she was very happy in her job. No, more money would not make her change her mind. Edward paused, and she could practically hear him arguing silently with himself before he finally, hesitantly said, ‘It’s not . . . a man, is it, Lou?’
    ‘Definitely not,’ she said, keeping her voice steady. She had no idea what gossip Edward might have heard, but the less she said, the less she could incriminate herself.
    ‘Good,’ said Edward, sounding relieved. He wasn’t one to pry about emotional issues, so she knew he’d rather not have asked the question at all. He certainly wasn’t going to pursue the matter. ‘Well, Louise,’ he said seriously, ‘I really am gutted to see you go. Truly I am. If there’s anything I can do . . . you know . . . to help you find your feet down south, just let me know.’
    ‘Thanks, Edward,’ Louise said, genuinely moved. She hadn’t expected that. ‘Well, if you do hear of anyone looking to hire someone, let me know. My . . . er . . . family commitments will be quite heavy, so I’ll be looking to workpredictable hours, not too much travel, that sort of thing.’
    ‘I’ll keep an ear to the ground,’ Edward promised, and rang off.
    So this was it. A month from now, she’d he heading for London . . . jobless, homeless and pregnant. She felt so, so afraid, and suddenly, irrationally, she wished Brian was