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‘What are you doing here?’ asked Tess She didn’t seem especially pleased to see Connor

‘I work here,’ he said

‘As an accountant?’

‘No, no, I had a career change a few years back I’m the PE teacher’

‘You are?’ she said ‘Well, that’s’ Her voice drifted, and she finally said, ‘nice’

Connor cleared his throat ‘Well, anyway, it’s very good to see you’ He glanced at Liaed his mind and held up the sheaf of tennis forms ‘Thanks for this, Mrs Crowley’

‘My pleasure, Connor,’ said Rachel coldly

Lucy turned to her daughter as soon as Connor left ‘Who was that?’

‘Just soo’

‘I don’t think I reestured at Rachel and the paperwork in front of her

‘Sorry!’ Lucy s, stretched out his legs and yawned

Rachel saw that the grandrandson all had identical full upper lips It was like a trick Those bee-stung lips made them more beautiful than they actually were

She was suddenly inexplicably furious with all three of theies andat the forertip ‘No, not there Here Then we’ll be done and dusted’

Tess had her keys in the ignition to drive the She lifted it fro

When she saw the name on the screen, she held up the phone for her mother to see

Her‘Well I had to tell him I pro on in your life’

‘You promised him that when I was ten!’ said Tess She held the phone up, trying to decide whether to answer it or let it go to voicemail

‘Is it Dad?’ asked Liam from the back seat

‘It’s ht as well be now She took a breath and pressed the answer button ‘Hi Dad’

There was a pause There was always a pause

‘Hello love,’ said her father