"Since he hasn't mentioned any of this to me, it looks as if he was probably going to dump me anyway", sniffed Sarah.

"That's most likely. When they find out about their jobs on Monday, I reckon it will tip the balance and he'll probably waste no time."

There was even a note of sympathy in Peter's voice now.

"I need time to think."

"Remember, Sarah, you haven't lost everything. I'm still your friend." His voice was more persuasive now and he had moved back closer to her.

"He's seeking reassurance that our relationship will go on", thought Sarah. "Do I give him the reassurance? What do I do?"

"I'm a bit of a liability, in the light of recent events." She shrugged her shoulders.

"But you are a very attractive liability".

He was next to her now and tentatively took her hand in his. She saw no point in resisting.

"Frankly, David doesn't know what he is giving up", he said. There was ownership and possession in his voice now.

"I don't love you", blurted out Sarah, and felt better for saying it whatever the consequences.

"Nor I you - but I fancy every limb of your beautiful body", said Peter. "So we are about evens on the commitment stakes. Of course, it just happens that I have a very nice property in a very pretty part of the country that I won't need for holiday lets until next year at the earliest. It could give you a base in which to live and get your children away from the unpleasantness of losing your home and you can start to rebuild your life.

Sarah gazed back at him her green eyes close to tears again. "And what would you want from me for doing all this?"

"Discretion - My wife won't look too closely at time I spend doing up my new investment. It's business and she'd rather be at the spending end of the deal. But my life can do without a lot of aggravation and the threat of divorce. Also, you may actually prefer not to have me around all the time."

"So I'm to be your kept mistress."

"Only until you get yourself back on your feet. You could look around for work. What about that estate agent. She looks as if she could do with some help. Without a mortgage to pay, your overheads would be low. What do you think?" His hands gave hers little squeezes now urging her to acceptance.

Freeing herself, Sarah crossed the room from the bed and dabbed at the wreck of her face in the mirror. It also gave her some time to think. Realising there was hardly any decision to make and satisfied she had tidied away most of the tear marks, she squared her shoulders and turned back to Peter on the bed. Strangely a weight was off her shoulders.

"We'll go and see the property again later this morning shall we", she said quietly and slowly rejoined him on the bed.

Later, the back of her head cushioned on Peters stomach, Sarah called the local estate agent on Peter's mobile phone. It only gave two rings before it was answered.

"Hello".

"Sarah and Peter here (it sounded so strange). Sorry to trouble you on a Sunday, but we'd appreciate a second look at the property. Nothing to worry about. Just a matter of considering carpets and curtains".