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next month. Surely they would like that?
    They loved the idea, both of them. Ella felt tears at the back of her eyes to see such gratitude.
    â€œWhat a wonderful gift, just imagine it,” her father said over and over.
    Ella wondered why had he never thought of such a thing himself if it was so great. Her mother was delighted too.
    â€œThe three of us all going down to Holly’s and staying the night!” she said.
    Ella realized with a shock that they thought she was going with them as well.
    â€œSo when will we go?” Her father was excited now, like a child.
    â€œA Friday or a Saturday?” she suggested. She couldn’t ruin it all now by explaining that she hadn’t meant to come with them.
    â€œYou choose,” Father said.
    Don wouldn’t ask her out on a Saturday, that would surely be family time.
    They fixed to go the following Saturday. Just as Ella was about to call the hotel and make the booking, her cell phone rang.
    â€œHallo,” Don Richardson said.
    She noted that he hadn’t said his name. It was arrogant in a way to assume that she knew who it was. But she was no good at playing games.
    â€œOh, hallo,” she said pleasantly.
    â€œIs it okay to talk?” he asked.
    â€œOh, it’s always okay,” Ella said, but she got up and moved out toward the spiral steps down to the garden at the same time. She gave an apologetic shrug to her parents as if this were a duty call she had to take.
    â€œI wondered if you’d like to have dinner Saturday?”
    She looked behind her into the sitting room. Her parents were examining the brochure for Holly’s as if it were some kind of map of a treasure trove. She could not cancel it now.
    Ella held on to the wrought iron rail. “I’m so sorry, but I’ve just arranged something, literally in the last few minutes, and it would be a bit difficult you see to—”
    He cut her off.
    â€œNever mind, it was on the off chance, there’ll be other evenings.”
    He was about to go. She knew she must not begin toburble at him, but she was so very eager to keep him on the line.
    â€œI wish I didn’t have to—”
    â€œBut you have,” he said crisply before she could cancel her parents’ outing and go with him wherever he suggested. “So catch you again.” And he was gone.
    All during dinner her heart felt like a stone. And later, she helped her mother with the washing up and they had the most extraordinary conversation.
    â€œElla, you couldn’t have done anything that would please your father more, it’s just what he needs. He’s been very pressured at work.”
    â€œThen why didn’t you take him to Holly’s, Mother?” Ella hoped her tone was not as impatient as she felt inside. Her mother looked at her, amazed.
    â€œBut what would we have done there together, just the two of us looking at each other? We might as well just stay here looking at each other if there was to be just the two of us.”
    Ella looked at her mother in shock. “You can’t mean that, Mam?”
    â€œMean what?” Her mother was genuinely surprised.
    â€œThat you don’t have anything to talk about with Dad.”
    â€œBut what is there to talk about, haven’t we said it all?” Her mother spoke as if this were the most glaringly obvious thing in the world.
    â€œBut if that’s the way it is, why don’t you leave him, why don’t you separate?” Ella stood with the dinner plate in her hand. Her mother took it away from her.
    â€œOh, Ella, don’t be ridiculous, why on earth would we want to do that? I never heard of such nonsense.”
    â€œPeople do, Mam.”
    â€œNot people like me and your dad. Come back inside now and we’ll talk about this great visit to Holly’s.”
    Ella felt as if a light, warm woolen blanket had been put over her head and was beginning to suffocate her.
    She went to the