Peppercorn Street by Anna Jacobs

a moment Nicole couldn’t speak, then she said it out loud. ‘It’s me. I’m going to be late back, I’m afraid. I’m moving out of home so I’ve just rented a flat. I’ve got to sort out the paperwork.’
    There was silence, then, ‘Your husband and sons haven’t started being more co-operative, then?’
    ‘No. Not one of them has lifted a finger for days, not even Sam.’
    ‘I’m so sorry.’
    ‘I am too. See you soon.’ Nicole closed her phone and slipped it into her handbag, surprised that she’d managed the call without bursting into tears. Well, she was beyond tears now. Everything felt very unreal, though.
    She walked back to the estate agent’s office, handed over her credit card with a steady hand and took away a folder of paperwork on what she must and must not do as a tenant.
    When she got into work, Helen gave her a sympathetic look. ‘You all right?’
    ‘Yes. I feel quite calm now that I’ve made my decision. Trouble is, I can’t move in until Monday.’
    ‘Pity. How shall you cope over the weekend?’
    ‘I’ll go out a lot. Can you manage the desk for a few minutes while I organise a day’s emergency leave for Monday?’
    She marched into the head librarian’s office and said, ‘Michael, I’m leaving my husband on Monday and I have to move into my new flat. I’ll need a day’s emergency leave.’ She waited for him to grumble.
    He looked at her in shock, then said gruffly, ‘I’m sorry. Do you … um, need any more time off than that?’
    ‘No, I’ll be all right with just one day.’
    ‘How are you moving your things?’
    ‘I’ve not thought about that yet.’
    ‘You could borrow my van if you like. You’re licensedto drive a bigger vehicle, aren’t you? Or I could nip down and help you carry your stuff.’
    Michael usually kept himself to himself and this offer surprised her. She must have shown that.
    He added in a rather tight voice, ‘I left my wife a couple of years ago. I know what it’s like.’
    ‘Thanks. I’ll not trouble you, though. I’ll check out removal firms who do small loads – I’m not taking much – and then get back to you if I need any help. And … well, thank you for offering.’
    ‘If you don’t mind me saying so, I’d advise you to take everything you can lay your hands on, or you may never see it again.’
    It was then she realised she’d been half counting on this being a temporary move – and it might not be. She nodded quickly and went into the ladies till she’d overcome a sudden tendency to weep.

Chapter Four
    Her boss’s advice made Nicole start mentally revising the list she’d been making of what she’d take with her. What couldn’t she bear to lose? That was the main decider.
    As the day passed, however, the white heat of her outrage at her family’s behaviour cooled and she began to wonder if she could actually do it, leave home, leave her sons and husband.
Should
she do it, morally?
    If she changed her mind about the flat, could she get her deposit money back? Probably not. And anyway, her sons seemed to have rejected her, which made her feel very sad.
    She desperately needed a breathing space, time to think what she wanted from life – and from her marriage. Besides, the boys would be leaving home in a year or two. What would she and Sam do with themselves then?
    In a sudden resurgence of anger at herself for dithering, she found a removal firm online and rang up to book them for Monday morning at ten o’clock for a small load.
    But she felt very apprehensive when she went home that night, worried about what she would find, what she would say to her family, how she would manage to keep her secret.
    She needn’t have got her knickers in such a twist. The house was empty.
    There were signs that the boys had come and gone, but the dirty dishes had only been shuffled around. Presumably they’d been rinsing what they needed for each meal. The overflowing rubbish bin was beginning to smell foul so she decided she’d