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he held up the bunch of lilies as proof.
        'Oh Gavin, it's too late. How could I trust you? Every day I'd come home from work and wonder if you were still there.' Whereas in reality, she'd been coming home from work and enjoying the fact that he wasn't.
        'I made a mistake. I wouldn't do it again, I promise.'
        'You say that now. But it's too late anyway. I've left my job.' Hooray! 'I'm leaving London.' Yay! 'In fact'—Tilly nodded at the minicab pulling up at the curb behind him—'I'm leaving right now.'
        Babs helped her drag the suitcases downstairs. Actually having to say good-bye to her was quite emotional; Babs might be the world's nosiest neighbor, but she meant well.
        Then it was Gavin's turn. Tilly dutifully gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek. 'Bye then.'
        'I messed up big time, didn't I?' He looked utterly dejected. 'I broke your heart and now I'm paying the price.'
        Tilly said bravely, 'We'll get over it.'
        'Ahem.' As Tilly climbed into the minicab that would take her to Paddington, Babs nudged Gavin and said, 'Aren't you going to give her the lilies?'
        Oh God, please no, they smelled awful, like the zoo.
        'Well, she probably wouldn't want to have to carry them on the train.' Since his ploy to win her back hadn't worked, Gavin was clearly reluctant to hand them over. 'And they cost twelve pounds fifty.' He took a hasty step back as Babs's eyes lit up in anticipation. 'So I think I'll just take them home and give them to my mum.'

    Was this how a shoplifter felt as they made their way around a store stealthily pocketing small items, nerve-janglingly aware that at any moment the tiniest slip-up could lead to them being caught out? Erin did her best to stay relaxed, to keep her breathing steady, but the terror showed no sign of loosening its grip; any minute now she could make that slip, give herself away.
    And to add insult to injury, she was in her own shop.
        Not trusting herself with the portable steamer in case her hands trembled too much, Erin busied herself with the computer and pre tended to be engrossed in a spreadsheet. Three feet away from her, riffling through a rail of tops, Stella Welch carried on chatting to her friend Amy through the door of the changing cubicle.
        'I saw Fergus again last night, by the way. Bumped into him in the Fox.'
        That's because you've been stalking him, thought Erin. You saw him going into the Fox, so you followed him inside.
        'How's he looking?' Amy's voice floated out of the cubicle above a vigorous rustle of clothes.
        'The truth? Pale.'
         It's February.
        'In fact, I told him he could do with a few sessions on the tanning bed.' Stella flicked back her tawny hair, held a pomegranate-pink silk shirt up against herself, and surveyed her reflection in the mirror. 'Does this color suit me? It does, doesn't it?'
        'It looks great.' Erin nodded, because the color was perfect against Stella's permatanned skin.
        'I also told him he was a bastard.' Stella seamlessly continued her conversation with Amy. 'I can't believe it's been six months since he left. I mean, why would anyone in their right mind want to leave me ? What did I ever do wrong? It's not even as if Fergus is amazing looking! I so don't deserve to be treated like this. Eleven years of mar riage and then he ups and goes, out of the blue. He was lucky to get me in the first place, for God's sake. Some men are just… deluded!'
        'Did you tell him that?' said Amy.
        'Only about a million times. God, he just makes me so mad. I asked him last night if he was seeing someone else but he still says he isn't. He'd better not be, that's all I can say. Oh yes, that's perfect on you.'
        The changing room door had opened. Amy did a twirl in the midnight-blue Nicole Farhi dress. 'Not too over the top for a first date? I was wondering if I should play it cool and just