She was whistling, which was a sure sign that I was about to suffer."Ok, hun," she said as she walked around in front of me. ?Behind you is a lump of ...ice with a key frozen inside. When the ice melts, the key will fall to your hands and you will be able to unlock your cuffs from the spreader bar. The rest of the keys are back at camp. I'll see you there."My eyes widened as I looked at her, not quite able to believe that she was serious. How could she leave me like this??What?s the matter,. "Really? Now?" Jasmine affected an air of indifference at theinterruption, trying not to seem scared at all."Yes. Da boss was insistent that you go see 'im. We was told to insistlittle lady" The heavy confirmed. Despite the fact that he was forcingher into a car against her will and abusing the English language, he wasbeing much politer than Marcus had been all evening.The two heavies got in the back of the car flanking Jasmine, who pulledthe hem of her dress down to cover up her stocking tops. She often did this when she was in a playful mood. I guess this was her way of trying to soften me up. Well the food might do it but it would change nothing. I looked at her as I put my briefcase away and removed my suit jacket. I hung it up in the hallway as usual and went past her to grab a cool beer from the fridge. She watched me carefully but didn't try to engage me in a conversation. I did move over to the stove to smell the pot roast and that gave her some consolation. At least I was. Ever since reaching puberty, I dreamed of just being a mum, spending my time taking care of a house and children. Tom, with his energy and hard work gave me that opportunity, and never questioned that it should be different. But, now that the everyday pressures of cooking, cleaning and school runs were behind me, I felt that I needed something more. I have girlfriends, and when the last of the children went off to college, being fellow mums and in similar positions, they instinctively rallied.