by Sarah Cleaves

Created on: April 03, 2009

How long do you think you'll be gone for this time?' Lucy asked as she watched John carefully lay a brand new smart suit in his functional suitcase. She was sure that suitcase had travelled far more miles than she had in the last few years. Lately more than ever.

Oh I don't know. Probably a week this time,' he said casually. This one is a particularly important meeting.'

Lucy sighed. It seemed as though they were all important. I'm thinking about getting a cat,' she said almost to herself. I'm getting quite lonely in this big house all on my own.'

Sounds good' said John as he ran the zip around the case and lifted it off the bed, though she knew he hated cats. He leant in for the obligatory kiss which she dutifully delivered. I'll call you when I get there.'

Lucy just nodded as he pushed on past her and shut the front door behind him. She didn't have any words left to say. All she'd ever wanted was to get married, settle down and have a family, but after six years of careful nudging and hint dropping Lucy was beginning to think John was never going to marry her. She wasn't even sure he'd heard a word she'd said.

Yep' she sighed on her own once more, I think a cat is all I'm ever going to get.'

*

Lucy resigned herself to another quiet day and settled down in front of some mindless daytime television with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, always guaranteed to lift her spirits. It was one of the perks of her job as a teacher that she had the whole summer off work. Well not exactly off work, she would have to get around to marking some papers later on, but for now her time was her own.

It was only a shame that the summer wasn't going better. She tucked her knees up into her elbows as she sipped the thick hot sweetness and watched the rain run streaks down the window. She was shaken out of her daydreams by a nock at the front door. She wasn't expecting anyone, but as the sharp rhythmic rapping came again she knew exactly who it was.

Lucy are you in there?' she heard the familiar voice calling through the glass and opened the door to find her sister Cheryl standing on the doorstep. Ooh that looks nice,' said Cheryl eyeing up the hot chocolate and without so much as a word Lucy handed it over and turned back into the house leaving Cheryl to shut the door behind her.

What's up with you?' her sister asked with genuine concern and she followed Lucy down the hallway and into the living room.

John's gone off on another one of his business trips,' Lucy explained as she slumped back

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