Her head shot up. The noise of metal sliding against metal met her ears. But it couldn't be. Unless... Cold fear swept through her. She quickly rose from the desk, treading slowly over the thick carpet out into the hallway and into the kitchen, opening the back door to provide some form of escape if needed. At the same time, the ill-fitted front door scraped against its frame.

She looked around for something, anything that could be used as some type of weapon. Her gaze finally settled on the ornament on the telephone table. She seized it, whirling round to face the intruder. But what met her gaze made her pause.

"Gordon thank goodness!" She finally exclaimed, having taken a moment to register the three people standing in front of her. She bent down, placing the ornament on the floor beside her, and enveloped Katie and Tom in a tight hug as they ran to her. They garbled excitedly at her, all their adventures of the week gushing forth in a barely coherent stream.

She glanced up. Gordon had his back to her, hanging up his coat. He turned back, catching her gaze. She knew he'd noticed her strange behaviour, the ornament, but he stayed silent. She returned her attention to the children, forcing her breathing to calm in an attempt slow her heart rate so as not to alert them to anything amiss.

She finally coaxed Tom and Katie to let her stand and move through to the living room, where she could more comfortably listen to their stories from the settee. Tom settled on one side of her, Katie the other, meaning she often had a different story going in each ear. Gordon followed them in, standing behind the armchair and leaning on the back with folded arms. She looked up at him when the children paused to take a breath. "Why are you home so early? I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow."

"I thought it would be for the best." He gave her a level gaze. She knew exactly what he meant.

A familiar pang of guilt swept through her; knowing she had cut his trip short. "But what about your Mum?"

"She's fine with it. She thought it was the best thing to do too."

Jill nodded, then dropped her gaze once more to the children. She hated the unfamiliar stiltedness that had taken over their conversation. Nine years of friendship, and nearly a year of marriage gave Jill the ability to read her Gordon, yet now, she couldn't decipher his feelings towards her. They rarely argued, aside from the occasional professional disagreement, and certainly never to the extent when they would fall out for any length of time. They needed to talk, she knew this. Yet she hadn't a clue what to say to dispel the tension. She didn't even know if Gordon would be receptive to a conversation.

"Have you anything planned for dinner?"

Gordon's question interrupted her thoughts. She was glad of the neutrality of the question, not that they could discuss anything of importance with the children present. "Not really, why?"

"How about fish and chips on the sea front? Then let these two have a run on the beach. They had far too much energy sitting in the car all day." His last sentence almost didn't reach Jill's ears as Tom and Katie let out a loud cheer at the prospect of the evening's activities.

Letting the children have a run and a play would allow Gordon and herself a little time to talk out of Tom and Katie's earshot. It seemed he was as willing to sort everything out as she was. She flashed him a smile over Tom's head. He returned the gesture. They were somewhat polite and sad smiles, but it was a start.