Page 23 of The Runaway Wives

There was a silence around the table as they all digested Cath’s remarks. No wonder Glenn was so bitter, Dee thought.

16

‘That’s tough,’ Babs acknowledged. ‘But it doesn’t excuse rudeness.’

‘We know,’ Kenny agreed. ‘Glenn can be a bit too quick to jump in.’

He’d picked the wrong person to do that to, Dee thought ruefully. Babs didn’t take any prisoners and now Glenn had rubbed her up the wrong way, it looked like sparks might fly between them.

‘Is there anything else we can help with, we’re here for the week?’ Dee asked. She liked to be useful and thought it would also be a good idea for Babs to have something to get involved in, take her mind off things. Although, she might have to keep Babs and Glenn apart!

‘We have a beach clean-up tomorrow morning, you can join that if you want. Though I’d better warn you that Glenn is the one running it,’ Cath said.

Dee turned questioningly to Babs. They had planned to go to St Michael’s Mount, but they would have plenty of time to do that later in the week.

‘I’m up for that,’ Babs agreed. ‘And I’m sure we can handle Grumpy Glenn.’

‘I’ll ignore that.’ Glenn had returned now and took his seat at the table. Babs met his gaze defiantly. He shrugged and put his hands up. ‘Okay, I admit I was a bit sharp. I apologise.’

‘Accepted,’ Dee said and Babs added, ‘I should think so. After all, holidaymakers bring in a lot of work and income to the area too.’

Glenn gave her a sharp look. ‘That’s as maybe,’ he said grudgingly. ‘But if you mean that about joining the Beach Clean-Up, be at Telwyn Beach tomorrow morning at eight.’ Glenn took a sip of his beer. ‘We need all the help we can get.’

‘We’ll be there,’ Babs replied.

‘Do we need to bring anything with us?’ Dee asked.

‘It will all be provided.’ Glenn glanced at their clothes. ‘Mind you, it’s not a dress up job.’

Babs rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t worry we’re not going to turn up in our glad rags. We do have some common sense.’ Her tone was lighter now though and there was also a small smile on Glenn’s lips as he replied.

‘Glad to hear it.’

Hopefully those two would call a truce now, Dee thought. It would be good to not only be involved with something, but to have a group to socialise with while they were down here. It would make the holiday an even more pleasant one.

The atmosphere lightened considerably after that and the conversation turned to the garden party being held to raise funds for the Artists’ Studios the following Saturday afternoon. Someone was making cakes and providing refreshments, and there were stalls for the artists to display their wares and lots of activities going on.

‘Is there time to run any “join the artist” sessions?’ Dee asked. ‘It might attract a lot of attention if the artists not only showed how they do their crafts, but gave the public a chance to join in too.’

Kenny looked thoughtful. ‘That’s a great idea, we’ve only got a few days to go but I could do a painting session and I’m sure some of the artists could put something together. We’ll suggest the idea to them and see what they can come up with.’

‘For future funds, have you thought of approaching local businesses to see if they’ll sponsor any of the artists? Perhaps they could agree on creating something bespoke to promote the business too? For example a glassmaker could make a special glass with the name of the business on it? Or a jewellery maker could make a pendant and earrings that the business can sell in their store. I went to a book festival last year and lots of the authors had pendants and earrings with their book covers on them. They were very popular.’

‘Dee, that’s brilliant!’ Kenny said. ‘We’re going to have to get together for a promotion ideas meeting before you go back home. It’s a shame you don’t live down here, we could do with you on the committee.’

‘Perhaps you could still be on the committee when you go back home, Dee. We can have online meetings and maybe you could even come down to an event now and again,’ Cath suggested.

‘I’d love that,’ Dee agreed. This is what she’d been looking for, something fresh to get involved with. And the Arts were close to her heart. When she was a teacher she used to do a lot of craftwork with the children in school, and enjoyed making paper flowers to brighten up her flat, and colourful paper bead jewellery, before she met Nigel. Then she got too busy helping him with his paperwork, running the home, and looking after the children. Nigel also pointed out that the set they mixed with were into diamonds, gold and pearls, not home-made paper beads.

‘Right, I’m off.’ Glenn put his empty tankard down on the table. ‘See you both on the beach at eight tomorrow. And remember, old clothes.’

He seemed to have mellowed a bit, thank goodness, Dee thought. She had been worried that he and Babs were going to have an all-out row but Babs had a big heart and after learning what Glenn was going through, Dee knew that Babs would forgive his outburst, although she wouldn’t put up with any more of them.

Dee sometimes wished she could be like Babs, but she hated confrontation and arguments. Many a time she’d stayed in her bedroom, hiding under the duvet, as her parents argued and threw things. Their rows were heated and noisy, although thankfully, never got violent, and as an only child she’d found them deeply traumatising. It made her fear any kind of argument and she bent over backwards to keep the peace, trying to look at the bigger picture. It was a habit she’d carried into her married life, squashing her anger and upset with Nigel in order to keep the house peaceful, and life secure for Annabel and Hugh. She had never wanted to make them feel as scared as she had been, worried that things would escalate or that Dee and Nigel would get divorced. Dee had once mentioned this to her mother – as the reason she always tried to keep the peace, when her mother had told Dee that she should stand up for herself more. Her mother had looked at her in astonishment, insisting that she and Dee’s father had no idea their arguments had made her feel that way. ‘We were simply clearing the air, we adored each other, surely you knew that?’ And they must have done because they remained together right until her father died, and her mother had never remarried, dying a few years later. ‘Love doesn’t mean you have to be a doormat, Dee,’ her mother had said, but Dee preferred to be a ‘doormat’ than have a confrontation. She couldn’t deal with arguments and she didn’t want her children to have to either.

Now though, the children were grown up and Dee was tired of Nigel taking her for granted, of being overlooked, of always being the one to keep the peace. She could feel the stirring of rebellion growing in her.

When they arrived back at the cottage Dee went straight out into the backyard and was relieved to see Snowy lying on one of the garden chairs. He lifted his head and miaowed at her.

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