While I Was Away, He Left

Synopsis

When Layla Willis left home, her son was still at the breakfast table, his face smeared with milk froth and his grin as bright as ever. She switched off her phone and flew to Varachonar with the man who had once been her childhood sweetheart. Halfway home, her mother's call came through. She was sobbing so hard she could barely get the words out. "Your son has a 104-degree fever. He's been in intensive care for three days. Where the hell have you been?" Layla collapsed onto the sofa, her phone still clenched in her hand. The screen glowed with more than ninety-nine unread messages. There was only one from her husband, Alfie Willis. [Come home. We need to talk. [It's about the divorce.]