INTIMATE STRANGERS 9

The oppressive night gave way to a cooler dawn. Kerrien watched the strip of sky through her window, waiting for the day to arrive, so that she could get up. She had no doubt that Kate would want to spread her gossip to Ashton at the first opportunity. She also knew that whatever she said in her own defence, . Kate’s interpretation of what she saw would never change. She dressed and went through to the kitchen, desperate for some coffee to ease her burning, dry throat. The remains of last night’s meal lay on the table and she bundled it into the waste bin. In his haste to leave, Brett had forgotten it. Automatically, she wiped down the surface while waiting for the coffee to brew.

‘I'll go and wake the children,’ she said as Kate came into the kitchen.

‘I'd rather you left them. I don’t want you to go near them now.’

‘Whatever do you mean? That’s what I’m here for ... to look after the children.’

‘Precisely. And what happens the moment my back’s turned? You bring in some beach bum