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‘Comfy?’

‘Mmm.’ Ros snuggled under the soft fleecy throw.

‘Well, relax. Max is out for the count. Your mum’s just looked in on him. She’s heading for bed now.’ Her dad tucked a corner of the blanket under Ros’s chin. ‘I’ve put a hot water bottle in yours. Do you want to turn in, or will I leave you a while?’

‘No.’ She raised a wan smile. ‘To both questions. Stay. If you’re not too tired, that is…’

‘For you, pet,’ he stooped to plant a kiss on her brow, ‘never.’

Her eyes welled with tears. ‘Oh, Dad,’ she wailed, ‘I’m so glad to be home.’

‘And we’re glad to see you. You and Max.’ He didn’t mention Nic.

‘We might not be able to stay that long.’ Apologetic look.

‘Don’t fret over details like that tonight. The important thing is you get some rest. You look worn out.’

‘I am.’

‘Well, things will look better once you’ve had a good sleep.’

‘You think?’

‘I’m sure of it, Ros.’ He perched on the edge of the sofa. ‘We’ve all been there, you know.’

She stirred. ‘You and Mum?’

He chuckled. ‘You can’t stay married for as long as we have and not encounter a few bumps along the way.’

‘But,’ she protested, ‘actually leaving?’

His face darkened. ‘Is that what you’ve done?’

‘Yes… No…’ she scrunched fists into her eyes. ‘I don’t know. Don’t know much about anything anymore.’

‘Oh, come on, Ros. You used to be such a strong-minded girl.’

‘I used to be lots of things.’ She sat up. ‘And look at me now.’

‘You look fine to me. A bit pale, if I’m honest. And on the thin side. Have you lost weight?’

She ignored this last question. ‘I feel so inadequate, like I’m always letting people down.’

‘What people? Not your parents.’

‘People in Aberdeen.’ She hesitated. ‘Well, Nic if you must know.’

‘You sure of that? Mightn’t this all be down to nervous exhaustion? You’ve had a lot on your plate, pet, this past couple of years.’ He paused for reflection. ‘Maybe if you saw a doctor…’

‘Don’t you start.’

‘I didn’t mean…’

‘I’m sorry. It’s not your fault, it’s mine.’

‘In what way?’

‘Oh…just…I don’t live up to his expectations, is what it comes down to. And, yes, I did see our GP. And, no, I’m not suffering from depression, Dad. I’m reeling under a welter of criticism. And interference. And possessiveness.’ A wave of relief overcame Ros as she spoke the words out loud. ‘And if I don’t do something about it…’ Her words trailed off.

‘Oh, Ros.’ Her father’s face was filled with dismay. ‘Your mother and me, we had our suspicions that there was something not,’ he hesitated, ‘quite right. But we’d no idea it was that bad.’

‘It’s not,’ she hastened to reassure him. ‘Nic loves me, Dad, I’m sure of that. And he dotes on Max. But he’s so unpredictable: he can be nice as nice one minute and fly into a rage the next. That’s what I can’t cope with. I have tried.’ She threw a despairing look. ‘Learned to be less assertive, not to contradict him. I guess that’s what a good marriage is all about.’ Sad smile. ‘Giving up some of your own desires to please the person you love.’

‘Marriage shouldn’t be about giving up.’

‘That’s what I thought. And, to be fair, every time Nic loses it he’s immediately contrite. Wants to make amends. Do stuff to make it up to me. He’s good at that. He can be very persuasive, you know. And I used to enjoy it – the pampering bit, I mean – especially all those months when I was at home with Max. It was a lonely time, you see.’

‘Why didn’t you say? Your mother and me, we’d have come up, helped with the baby, let you get out and about.’

‘Nic didn’t want visitors. He was too wrapped up in the new job, and…’

‘That’s understandable, but it’s been a while, and we did wonder…’

‘Too late now. Whatever I do doesn’t make the slightest difference.’

‘Have you talked to anyone about this?’

‘Yes. My friend Fiona.’

‘What does she have to say?’

‘Fi’s pretty scathing. Doesn’t have a lot of time for Nic. Then there’s a colleague from school. Quite different from Fiona. But they both agree on one thing: they think Nic’s a bit of a narcissist. I’m sure if I pressed Fiona she’d tell me to leave.’

‘Have you considered that as an option?’

‘Not really. When you’re in that sort of situation, you get completely bogged-down. Your whole attitude to risk changes. You talk about me being strong-minded.’ She sighed. ‘The reality is the constant drip-drip of criticism saps your will, to the extent you feel paralysed. It’s only now I’m home with you I feel myself again.’

‘Oh, pet.’ Her father extended a comforting hand.

‘Problem is, I’ve more to lose leaving Nic than staying: my marriage, my job, my home. And there’s Max. How can I take him away from his father?’

‘No matter how badly he treats you? You have to think of yourself, Ros. You’re young, pet. You’ve your whole life ahead of you.’

‘You make it all sound so straightforward. I leave Nic…and then what? I’m thirty-two, Dad. I don’t want to end up back home with a baby in tow. You and Mum have your own lives to lead now.’

‘What was that?’ Cath Munro came into the room. ‘I couldn’t sleep. Heard you talking.’ Fond smile. ‘Thought I’d come and join the party.’

‘Dad was just telling me how I could leave Nic.’

‘Leave him!’ she exclaimed. ‘I didn’t think it had come to that.’

‘It won’t.’ Ros raised a weary hand. ‘Not without a fight. Even if I could summon the courage, it will be a messy business, I can tell you. Nic’s not a nice person when he’s not calling the shots.’

‘So I gather. But we’ll support you, you know that.’

‘You might have to. I don’t have the money to pay for a divorce.’

‘It may not come to that. Now, enough of this talk. What you need is a good long sleep. Away to your bed. Things will look better in the morning.’