She stared at the door leading to the kitchen.
“Maybe it was because we weren’t in the office?”
“Well there is that,” she nodded.
“I should get going soon,” Karen replied a minute or so later.
“Why? Have you got plans for tonight?”
“Not really,” she shrugged, “it was supposed to be a quiet night at home. The three oldest ones are out of home and the youngest will be with her girlfriends. Jonah is with his latest partner, he took to staying overnight a few years ago but this last year that’s been extended to whole weekends.”
“So stay for dinner,” Valerie urged her, “he’s staying overnight at a mate’s house or on the boat, so it’ll just be us.”
Karen looked at her for a moment as Valerie went on.
“Look, you’ve looked after Damien for the morning, I can’t have you going home alone and
