Julia Hearst has shoulder-length auburn hair, a shapely model’s swimwear figure, pouting lips, and she looks shattered, judging by the dark sacs swelling under her red eyes. Despite serious reservations, she is still living with Colin, a trainspotting dullard...

Helen hesitated, opened the lid, breathed, and there they were. Bright tall pink strong stalks. Her first forced rhubarb of the season. Reaching for it, she slid her hand along the firmest stalk until she felt the tender base,...