Chapter Thirty Five
Thursday, Evening
As soon as he heard the key in the door Joe leapt up and into the hall.
Caroline saw him looming towards her. His face was a mask of misery. Whether it was for what she had done, or for what was about to come, she couldn’t tell.
He grabbed her and she cried out.
She struggled briefly but then realised he was pulling her close, wrapping her in his arms telling her everything was OK. As she calmed down he held her away to look fully into her eyes.
“It’s OK. I know it was all a fake. Don’t worry.”
The instant change from agonising fear to utter joy and relief was too much and Caroline collapsed into his arms. He carried her to the sofa and sat her down carefully. He kept repeating the same phrase as he sought to reassure her, unable to think of any
