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Helen got up and went to the cloakroom, furious that she had had to tell hi Fall apart

She looked in the mirror "You love him," she said

Lizzie was at a friend’s Toe

"I won’t stay," Phil said "Cooing to have my life ruled byteaching day tomorrow"

She watched until his car had turned the corner Tohts downstairs

Helen looked up at the half-moon The air smelled cold, with a touch of winter So now he knew It sees or bad co up on school, but a narrow sectarian religious faith which divided her froht drive Phil away Would she be scared off, in his position?

No, she thought No, actually, I wouldn’t I’d say what Phil said That it was Tom’s life and she shouldn’t let it affect hers

But that was easily said

To a bowl of cereal, a booklet propped on the runted "Good time?"

"Very The play was excellent and so was the Italian dinner So yes Tea?"

"No thanks"

Helen glanced sideways at what he was reading "Is that so they’re keen on then? Chastity?"

"No sex before e"

"Saoodness Not very fashionable"

"No, fashionable is proay, fashionable is at the root of social breakdown The Bible says--"

"Ouch!"

He looked up

"Sorry--splash of hot water It’s fine"

She wished she hadn’t started the conversation, but what conversation with Tom could she start which didn’t head in the same direction?

"Don’t expect too much of people, Tom"

"I don’t"

"Not everyone has your take on it And when you s differently"

"I’ll make sure I don’t Anye all see it the same way"

"We?"

"My friends We don’t coentle little boy who had been To person who read pah Sex’? What kind of people had hiive them any money, Tom?" she asked suddenly

"Give who?"

"Your--the church"

"Of course How do you think we fund our outreach? How do you think the Word is spread? It costs"

"Right"

He got up from the table

"Put your bowl in the dishwasher, To, thin back, the blades of his shoulders through his T-shirt, his pepper-coloured hair Terry’s hair

"You should coo to Lizzie’s orchestra, you go to your choir You never go to s How do you knohat it’s about? You’d be fired up You’d see everything differently"

"That’s what I’d be afraid of"

She was ready for bed but she didn’t go There was a tension about Tos away and wiping down the work surfaces In the end he said, "Might go back to the States next year"

"See soot this college in Carolina A kind of Bible college For training"

We

"I can train there"

"A training college I get it"

"Don’t wind me up I want to be an outreachothers in--to spread the faith"

She said nothing The questions that came to her lips could not be asked What would your father have said? How are you going to pay for this? Don’t you think you’re too young? Are you sure?

"Mum?"

"Yes Well, it’s your life, To commitment"

"I think hard and pray about it all the ti, so on his face

"Goodnight, love"

"Muuy"

"You have tois … I knoas cool about it to begin with …"

The kitchen was quiet Wait, Helen told herself Just wait