One evening, when Alice was at a friend's and Paul was working late, the tight humid skin squeezing the city finally split open. Looking out at the novel downpour, Abi fretted about the deepening crevices in her family and in her hitherto impeccable career as a public servant, turning worries over and over in her mind. Maybe, just maybe, she thought, she could fight like a tiger and ride it all out. Alice, Paul and even her mum were tolerating her but avoiding her as well, and it was a lonely feeling. Were they scared of her, sorry for her or critical of her? It was hard to tell. Perhaps with the rain everything would finally calm down a little.