The Break — Russell James

Paul's life is ordinary, until the night he stops his car to take a walk, Stumbling into â€" and hoping to avoid â€" a domestic affray, he finds himself the reluctant guardian to a homeless young woman and her shabbily-dressed child. It's late. Where can they go? Paul has access to a boat moored on the Thames. They'll be safe there, won't they?

Paul and Fay have little in common. He is well-paid and comfortable while Fay, after breaking up with Roper, her violent boyfriend, has nothing left but her young daughter. On the night Paul rescues her their two worlds briefly touch, like a kiss on a pool table after which the flight of the balls will change. They may meet again or they may continue to bounce off side cushions, skating across green baize, slowing with every bounce, never touching again. Who knows what will happen? With each bounce as the balls skid off in fresh directions, it may be time for another kiss â€" or for a collision, when all the balls will fly apart.

Tucked away in the longboat on the river, Paul, Fay and Emma begin to feel secure â€" but Roper is an angry, jealous man. He wants her back.