Dropping the bra I turned around swiftly only to be face to face with Kitty Setterton.

I felt sick, my throat closed off and my mouth gaped open while I tried not to faint with fear. I trembled and felt like running but I stood as if rooted to the spot by some mysterious force.

"Yes," Kitty purred, obviously enjoying every moment of my terror. "It is the long lost mother who abandoned her children."

I felt chilled by her words, I hadn't seen Kitty in years and yet she knew that I had run out on Luke and the children.

My mind didn't bother trying to figure out how she may have known that, I was still trying frantically to face each moment as it came. How could I have been so stupid? Atlanta was the biggest city nearest Winnerrow it was obvious to me now that running into someone here would have been inevitable.

Oh please, oh please I whispered silently over and over to myself.

I knew Kitty was nothing but trouble.

"Now, now," she soothed with narrowed eyes, "I know ya musta had ya reasons, Ah don't blame ya one bit fer leaving that good fer nothin' Luke Casteel." She said her voice dripping with hatred.

"I neva envied the way he treated ya one bit." she continued.

I stood mute, waiting with trepidation for her to continue.

"It's a damn shame what's happen'd to your family." she said gleefully.

I swallowed hard trying to prepare myself for what was coming next.

Oh please god I prayed silently wishing in futility for some miracle to save me from this agonizing torment.

"None ya children are yers no more, I've got Heaven meself and she's forgotten all 'bout ya."

"What?" I said suddenly breaking my silence. "What?"

She looked at me slyly. "Done pretty good for yerself hey?" she said looking me carefully up and down.

"Yep, reckon there must be some people somewhere's who'd be inarested in what'd I'd havta say." She said threateningly.

"None ya children yers no more, all shipped off to differn't homes since their own mum didn't want 'em, dad didn't want 'em neither."

"Maybe Luke'll wanna know where's bout his wife has got to now too." She mused to herself.

She narrowed her eyes and appeared to be thinking.

"Got someone pickin' ya up hey?" she asked slowly, intuitively.

I looked away refusing to answer.

"Maybe I'd betta wait 'til they come to collect their little prize 'ere and let 'em know just what they got themselves in fer."

I felt a chill stabbing through my heart.

"But naw... mebbe I kin get somethin fer meself. Gots me some stuff that needs doin that I just know ya'd be perfect for."

I felt like vomiting.

"I gots me a big interest in the wherefores of Luke and his family. "ya'd better meet me back 'ere on Tuesday next week she said handing me a little card, unless ya'd like me to tell Luke just wheres bouts ta look for his dearly departed" She sneered hatefully.

She turned around and stalked out of the shop triumphantly.

I was left standing dumbfounded in the shop, I slipped to the floor and sat staring. Damn Luke, damn him. I felt the tears begin to slip from my eyes and soon I was sobbing hysterically. Crying until I felt weak. I felt terrified for my children. An unknown fate had befallen them all. God help Heaven if what Kitty said was true, could she really be living with her?

I gathered my composure as best I could. Slowly I stood up and tried to control my shaking.

I checked the time on the watch, 1:15pm.

I found the checkout and asked the teenaged shop assistant if there was a tap or sink nearby. She noticed I had been crying and very kindly showed me to the private toilets which were usually reserved for staff only.

"Do you need a cup? She asked.

"No thank you." I said.

I closed the door and looked at my face in the mirror, my tears began afresh. I held the sink on each side and leaned over it looking down trying to get control of my emotions.

Without looking up I turned on the tap, cupping the water repeatedly and rinsing my face with it.

I dried my face gently with a paper towel, trying not to rub – not wanting to add any further redness to my blotched features.

With sheer force of will I put the entire episode out of my mind and headed back to the cafe where Johnathan and I had had lunch.

I hoped Johnathan would already be there so I wouldn't have time to think.

I was in luck, he stood there smiling as I approached. "Ready to go, Sarah?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm looking forward to getting back," I said gratefully, "and thank you for buying lunch."

"That's fine, don't mention it," he said offhandedly.

On the way back I kept talking and talking trying desperately to keep painful and terrifying thoughts from entering my head, knowing that fresh tears weren't far away.

Johnathan seemed amused at my animated chatter about housework, cooking and old stoves.

The exhaustion of the day had finally taken its toll by the time we reached Firestone. I smiled weakly at Johnathan hoping he didn't think me foolish.

We exited the car and began to unload the stationary supplies, I walked slowly, carefully into the house making pensive trips with my mind far away from the task.

My mind was too restful, it returned to Kitty. I was crying again. I quickly deposited the last load of paper onto the beautiful partner's desk and covered my face with my hands.

My shoulders shook and my body found part of the relief it was seeking.

Suddenly I felt strong arms around me, "There, there." he soothed, holding me in a warm embrace.

"It's ok." he whispered gently, his lips near my ear.

Shocked by the sudden intimacy I stopped crying. "Oh, I'm alright," I desperately explained pulling away. "I just suddenly thought of my mother for a moment." I lied.

"I guess it's going to take me a while to get used to living without her." I said sadly, wiping my tears away with the handkerchief he had produced.