Page 38 of The Runaway Wives

Geoff licked his lips and fidgeted in his seat. ‘The thing is, I haven’t been totally honest with you.’

Her breath caught in her throat. He looked serious. What was he going to confess? Surely he hadn’t had an affair?

‘A couple of months ago I found a lump.’

Her hand flew to her mouth. Oh God, no, was he ill? ‘A lump?’ she gasped. ‘Where?’

‘In my— er, you know.’

‘Your testicle?’ Her heart was beating a drum against her chest now. ‘Why didn’t you tell me? You need to go to the doctors right away.’

‘I did go to the doctors, it was a bacterial infection and they gave me medication for it. And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you.’

‘Oh, Geoff.’ Babs was by his side, hugging him. ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’

‘I’m fine. Honest I am.’ He wrapped his arm around her and they embraced tightly. ‘The thing is, it gave me a fright. It made me realise how vulnerable I was, how I was getting older and hadn’t done what I wanted with my life. That’s when I started thinking about moving to Spain. To have the experience of living in another country. Do something I’ve never done, before I get too old.’

‘Oh, Geoff, why didn’t you talk to me? You could have explained so that I could at least understand why you’ve acted this way.’

‘I know. I’ve been a pig-headed idiot. Molly and Lennon have both read me the riot act. I’ve gone about it all wrong.’

Babs swallowed. ‘So have I,’ she admitted. ‘I should have realised there was a reason behind all this. You’re not a selfish man.’

Geoff kissed her on the cheek. ‘Look, I understand that it’s a big step but would you at least come with me to Spain to view the properties? You never know, you might see something you like.’

‘And what if I don’t? What if I still don’t want to go? What then?’

He sighed. ‘Then we won’t go. I don’t want to lose you, Babs. I know I was a bit heavy-handed. Please come with me, take a look and if you say no then I promise I will drop the idea.’

She hesitated. ‘But then will you resent me for not letting you live your dream?’

He ran his hand over his bald head. ‘No, of course not. I promise you I’ll turn down the buyer’s offer, take the house off the market and forget the idea if you really don’t want to move. Please at least come and take a look.’

Babs hesitated. What if she went on this trip to Spain with him and he kept chipping away at her, trying to persuade her to go along with his plan? She didn’t want her marriage to end, but she didn’t want to be guilt-tripped into living abroad either.

Geoff rested his hand on hers. ‘Look, I’ll cancel the trip if you want, if that’s what it takes to get you back, I’ll do it. You mean the world to me, Babs. You always have.’ His eyes glistened. ‘I’d really like you to give it a chance though. We could look on it as a holiday, spend a bit of time together. It’s been horrible without you this week, I can’t bear to think of spending the rest of my life without you.’

She could see that he meant it. He would call it all off if she wanted. He was prepared to forget his dream. Well, it wouldn’t hurt her to agree to look at the properties in Spain, would it? And she had to admit, a week in the sun would be lovely.

26

DEE

A text pinged in. Dee grabbed her phone expecting it to be an update from Babs but to her surprise it was Yvonne, the wife of Nigel’s friend, Andrew, who she presumed was on the golf trip with Nigel.

I need to talk to you urgently. Call me when you’re free.

Dee read the text, puzzled. She and Yvonne were polite to each other, but not chummy. Yvonne had never messaged her wanting to talk before. Had something happened on the trip? Was Nigel hurt? Had Andrew asked Yvonne to contact Dee to let her know?

She quickly hit the call button. ‘Yvonne, what’s happened? Is Nigel okay?’

‘Don’t panic. It’s nothing like that. Although you might want to do him some damage when you learn what he’s done.’

Dee swallowed. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Look, I’m really sorry to break this to you but I simply can’t not tell you. It wouldn’t be fair.’ She paused. ‘Nigel and Andrew, they’ve been playing away. They’ve been cheating on us, Deirdre.’ On the few occasions that Dee had met Yvonne she’d always insisted on calling her by her full name of Deirdre.

Dee closed her eyes. Not again. She’d thought that was all over with. Nigel had sworn after the last time that he’d never cheat again. It had been five years, and there had been no signs. He was older now. She thought, hoped, he was past all that. Maybe he’d simply got better at hiding it.

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