As Rachel had expected, the first colleague to burst into her office was Steph, closely followed by Kim. She couldn't help but laugh at the way they both squealed with excitement at the sight of her. Rachel wasn't normally one to accept or give hugs to anyone, but she immediately found herself dashing over and wrapping her arms around her two friends. She'd never been happier to see them in her life.

"I can't believe you're back!!! I thought you'd settled abroad?" Kim exclaimed

"The travelling from place to place was getting tiring and we'd already seen so much. We felt it was time to start settling down" Rachel answered simply

"Well, you definitely had a successful honeymoon!" Steph laughed, nodding at her baby bump

Kim was, for a moment, confused as to what Steph was talking about. When her eyes finally fell on Rachel's growing stomach, her jaw dropped open. She knew Rachel was and always would be a private person. But the two of them had spoken over the phone a couple of times in the last week and she hadn't said a word about being pregnant! It didn't matter of course, she was happy for her friend. She didn't know about Adam, but she knew Rachel was a natural with children of all ages. She'd seen the way she'd interacted with little Grace and Dexter when he was a newborn, and as for the kids at Waterloo Road, she mothered them in a way she'd never seen a Head Teacher do before.

"Wow! You kept that one quiet!" she exclaimed

Rachel smiled, placing a hand on top of her stomach.

"So, how is married life treating you? Is Adam behaving himself?" Steph teased

Rachel forced a smile as she told them it was going well. She told them how 'smoothly' married life was going and how 'easy' everything was between her and Adam, that he couldn't do more for her if he tried. It was far from the truth. Adam's behaviour was far from golden or acceptable. He was the opposite of a gentleman or prince charming. He was manipulative, selfish, controlling and violent and she had the bruises to prove it. She was desperate to confide in her friends and tell them everything. But she couldn't, not on her first day back.

"So, how far along are you?" Steph questioned

"Thirty two weeks"

"And you're starting a new job now when you're only weeks away from going on maternity leave?" Kim checked, raising an eyebrow sceptically

"I won't be on maternity leave for long. Three months at the most" Rachel explained

"But... what about the baby?" Steph challenged

"She'll come into work with me. I've got a travel cot ready"

"So you want to do full-time work, with a newborn?" Kim questioned

Rachel nodded.

"I knew you were a workaholic, but isn't this a bit too much, Rachel? You'll be exhausted!" Steph reasoned

Rachel sighed. Yes, she was a workaholic, but it had nothing to do with why she was taking such a short maternity leave. Adam was the reason for that. If he wasn't around, or if she was married to someone who she felt safe with, she would happily stay at home and soak up the bliss of being a new Mum. But that wasn't the case. Unless she found a place to live before she gave birth, her maternity leave would be cut short. She couldn't let herself and her daughter live in a place where they didn't feel safe. The only way to get away from him, even just temporarily, was to come into work.

"I'll be fine. I'm tougher than I look" she reassured

"Rachel, just think about it. You're going to wear yourself out!" Kim argued

"I won't. I'll be fine"

Kim sighed in disbelief.

"And what does Adam have to say about it?" she added

"He's... fine with it" Rachel shrugged

"Have you even discussed it with him?" Steph questioned

Rachel scoffed.

"Of course I have! I'm not an idiot, Steph! He's fine with it"

The two women shared a sceptical glance with each other. Rachel knew neither was convinced, but she didn't really care. This was the plan for now and she knew that if they knew why they would understand. But she wasn't going to tell them, not yet anyway. The last thing she wanted was to burden her friends.

"Can we please change the subject? We've got a lot to do today. There's a new Deputy Head coming in, he'll need to be shown around and introduced to everyone in the staffroom. The LEA haven't given me his name, so I don't who he is or what his background is" Rachel explained

Her gaze turned to Kim.

"Kim, can you be the acting Deputy Head for the day and show him around and everything? I'll find someone to cover your classes"

Kim nodded.

"Steph, keep your flirty comments to yourself for today please" Rachel added

"It's called being welcoming, Rachel!" Steph corrected, smirking

"Yes, well, be a little less welcoming, ok?"

Steph rolled her eyes playfully, stepping out of the office as the bell rang out for registration.

"The new Deputy should be here soon. If you want to go to registration and teach your first class and I'll come to you before the start of second lesson?" Rachel suggested

"Sure" Kim agreed

"Good, I'll see you later, then" Rachel nodded

"I'm really glad you're back, you know? We've all missed you" Kim blurted

Rachel smiled.

"I've missed you all too"