Page 13 of The Runaway Wives

Even her career hadn’t been important, she thought wistfully. Nigel had persuaded her to give up her much-loved job as a primary school teacher as soon as Hugh was born. ‘I want you to be there for ourownchildren,’ he’d coaxed. ‘I want them to have their mother at home, happy to see them and spend time with them, not one who comes in from work frazzled. And I need someone here taking care of the home, cooking me dinner, helping me relax at the end of the day. My job is so stressful.’ So she’d done as he’d asked, and she’d made a good job of being a mother, she thought, always giving the children her undivided attention.

Over the years what she wanted had become less and less important. All she’d cared about was creating a secure and happy home for her two children. And if that meant turning a blind eye to Nigel’s occasional indiscretions, then so be it. As he’d pointed out to her the first time she’d discovered that he’d beenindiscreeton a business trip away, asking: ‘is it worth destroying the family, taking the children out of private school, giving up their beautiful home and holidays abroad for one mishap when he’d been feeling lonely and missing her?’ He’d made it sound as if it was her fault he’d fallen into the arms of another woman, pointing out almost reproachingly that he worked so hard to give them all a wonderful lifestyle, but that he was only human and it was lonely living in a hotel room far away from home.

Whereas, Babs and Geoff had always run the shop together and spent every evening home together. They’d been inseparable. Until now. She couldn’t believe that Babs had walked out, and that Geoff hadn’t come after her, promising to do anything if she would come home again. They would get back together though, she was sure of that. Thirty-seven years was a lot to throw away, two years more than her and Nigel. Besides, they adored each other.

‘It’s pretty in here, isn’t it?’ Babs asked, her voice jolting Dee back to the present. ‘As soon as I saw it across the harbour, I knew it was the right place to go.’

‘It’s very picturesque, I like it,’ Dee assured her.

The waiter came over, smiled at Babs, obviously recognising her from earlier. Most people remembered Babs; she was such a bright, bubbly person. He showed them their table, pulling out a chair for first Dee then Babs.

‘Can I get you both a drink?’ he asked when they were seated and he’d handed them a menu each to browse, then waited for their drinks order.

‘You know, I think I’m going to order a bottle of champagne. Let’s celebrate in style,’ Dee decided. Sod Nigel, she was going to enjoy her birthday.

‘A good decision. We have a very nice bottle of house champagne,’ the waiter told them. ‘Give me a few minutes.’ He returned with a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice, and two glasses. He expertly uncorked the bottle, pouring some of the sparkling golden drink into two glasses, placing one in front of each of them. ‘Happy birthday, madam.’

‘Thank you,’ Dee said with a smile. She might have known that Babs would mention it was Dee’s birthday when she booked the table. She picked up the glass. It looked so inviting with its chain of pearly bubbles around the surface. She took a long sip, savouring the sweet, velvety taste.

Babs raised her glass. ‘Happy sixtieth birthday, Dee.’

‘Thank you.’ Dee held her glass out and they both clinked cheers.

‘Happy birthday, but surely it isn’t really your sixtieth?’

Dee looked over at the couple sitting at the next table. The woman – slim, dark-haired with a gamine face and pixie haircut – was the one who had spoken. Her male companion, stouter and a bit older with dark hair thinning on the top, smiled at her. ‘Er, yes, it is.’ She felt a little embarrassed, wishing that Babs hadn’t announced her age so loudly.

The couple raised their glasses. ‘Well, happy birthday to you!’

‘It’s your birthday?’ A waitress taking meals to the people at the table behind them paused to look questioningly at Dee, who could feel her cheeks flush.

‘It’s her sixtieth, so we’re celebrating,’ Babs said.

The waitress looked from one to the other. ‘Ah, you are a couple?—’

‘No!’ Dee shook her head wildly. ‘No, we’re friends. We’re both married. Not to each other,’ she added emphatically. Heavens, she loved Babs to bits, but not in that way!

‘Ah, forgive me. Happy birthday. But surely not sixty?’

Dee was feeling rather flattered and embarrassed by the attention she was getting. ‘I’m afraid so,’ she admitted.

‘Then I wish you a wonderful evening,’ the waitress told her.

‘Gosh, that was embarrassing,’ Dee whispered to Babs.

‘It was a compliment, make the most of it,’ Babs said with a grin.

Babs was right, and it was nice that so many people didn’t think Dee looked her age. It had been a long time since Nigel had paid her a compliment. She didn’t think he even looked at her these days, except to criticise if he thought she was wearing the wrong clothes or her hair needed a trim. Not that he ever openly criticised. He merely stared at her and said, ‘Are you wearingthat?’ or ‘Isn’t it time you booked a hair appointment?’

‘Stop thinking about Nigel. We’re not going to think about the men tonight. We’re going to enjoy ourselves.’ Babs had thankfully lowered her voice to make this comment.

Her best friend was right. Dee was going to enjoy her birthday and push any thought of Nigel from her mind.

They both ordered steak, which was divine. Dee’s was medium-rare and Babs’ well-done, exactly as they each liked them, with mushrooms, pepper sauce, a generous portion of chips and salad garnish. They both topped up their glasses as they tucked into their meals, quickly devouring them, laughing as they shared previous holiday memories.

‘Do you remember that time we went on holiday to Brean and I’d bought a new white bikini?’ Babs giggled. ‘I didn’t know it was completely see-through when it got wet!’

‘You certainly turned a few heads that day. I had to run over to you with a beach towel so you could cover yourself up.’ Dee chuckled. She refilled their glasses. ‘And what about when we both wandered out to sea not realising that the tide was going out and that gorgeous-looking lifeguard came to rescue us on his quad bike. Everyone clapped as we got off.’

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