"Vague as usual. She had completely forgotten that I was coming up to Yorkshire to see her", said Sarah.

She forced the tone of her voice to be light and conversational, even carefree. She prayed her lies were undetectable.

David sounded tired. He would have had to leave his demanding job early so that he could collect the children from school. He had never enjoyed getting involved in domestic arrangements like food preparation or taxiing children about.

"Try to persuade her to put a telephone in so you won't have to use a public box in future or go and see her in person quite so often".

"I'll try", promised Sarah", - but you know how stubborn she is".

"Hang on", said David, "there's someone who wants to say hello".

There was a pause then a small 8 years old voice came on the line.

"See if there's a nest in the big tree like before Mummy."

Sarah felt a lump rise in her throat. Nicky was talking about a Thrush that had nested last year in the holly tree at the bottom of her mother's garden in Yorkshire. The eggs had hatched and the fledglings had flown with perfect timing during the children's bargain basement holiday.

"I'll go directly and have a look", Sarah promised.

"Thank you mum - here's Dad".

They chatted about nothing in particular for a few minutes then she saw through the glass door that Peter was back at the bar. Her legs felt weak.

"Give my love to the kids - and a big kiss for you big lover. I've got to go. There is somebody waiting to use the phone. Bye now". She put the phone down feeling sick.

Peter was reading through the menu when she joined him. "Not a bad menu for the sticks", he said. "Seafood or salad starters. You've got the choice of three main courses and then home made desserts with cheeses and two varieties of coffee to follow".

He beamed contentedly down at the menu. Used to a high salary, he enjoyed its' purchasing power.

"Choose some seafood for me", she said brightly and disappeared to the bedroom to freshen up.

Candles were lit on tables and the inn began to fill up. At the other end of the bar, a folk circle swung into action. Each person took turns to select a tune or song which was then quickly taken up by the others with gusto. They all seemed to know each other and were involving their audience too.

Guitars strummed, recorders trilled and accordions danced to the accompaniment of much raucous and cheerful banter.

Many diners that had previously been engrossed in their conversation, stopped talking, grinned at each other and started to tap their feet to the music.

Sarah returned, smiled shyly and stood to be admired. She'd put on a knee length flowered dress with shoulder straps and a low cut neck. She had also made a very important call to Reception on Peter's mobile phone.

As she'd waited for Reception to answer her call, she'd looked at herself in the mirror knowing that the dress she had put on teased and made a big promise. The thought filled her with trepidation. It was a promise that she was planning not to keep.