Page 43 of The Runaway Wives

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Parking her car in the drive, she stepped out and looked at the detached house with the wide picture windows and separate double garage that had been her home for many years. Nigel had chosen it, but she had loved it too. It was large, spacious, with a generous front and back garden. Ideal for a family to grow up in. They had some happy years here. Some sad ones too, she acknowledged, remembering the times she’d struggled to hold it together when Nigel had another one of his affairs, the nights she’d nursed a sick child alone while Nigel had been in a hotel on the other side of the world. Or out at a business meeting. She’d believed him then, well at least tried to. Her focus had been on holding her family together, protecting their children. Now there was no one but herself to consider and she’d had enough.

Shoulders back, she walked determinedly to the front door and put her key in the lock. Pushing it open she saw a small pile of letters on the carpet. Stooping down to pick them up she closed the door behind her and sifted through them. Half a dozen birthday cards, a note informing her that Royal Mail had tried to deliver a package, maybe the one Nigel had wanted her to go home and collect – and a couple of letters for Nigel. Then she remembered that Hugh had told her he’d posted her a present so she put the note in her handbag, along with the birthday cards, intending to collect the parcel before returning to Cornwall. She left Nigel’s letters on the small hall table and headed straight into the kitchen to make herself a drink. Everything was exactly as she had left it, of course, as no one had been home. She glanced out of the window at the large garden with its neatly mowed lawn, colourful flowerbeds, the ornamental fountain in the middle, and the decked area to the right. Perfect for entertaining. She’d lost count of the times she’d spent all day cooking then the evening hosting Nigel’s friends or clients. In the summer they’d sat out in the garden, on cooler days they’d used the dining room. She’d always made sure everything had been perfect, the house and garden immaculate. If she’d succeeded, Nigel would put his arm around her when the guests had gone, tell her that she’d done well, kiss her on the cheek, even help her tidy up and stack the dishwasher. If she’d done something to displease him, he would retreat into his study, leaving her to tidy up, then go to bed alone.

She made a filter coffee, wanting to savour these last few moments in the house that had been her home for so many years. Sipping it slowly, she made a list of the things she wanted to take with her. The family photo album, her memory box containing paintings the children had done, their school records, cards they’d made for her, the craft box her parents had bought her that she hadn’t used for years, her laptop, her jewellery box containing her great grandmother’s ruby brooch. She went up to fetch the jewellery box, sitting down at the table with it and her coffee. She took out the brooch and placed it in the palm of her hand. Her mother had always told her that it was valuable and to guard it carefully. She’d get it valued at the garden party tomorrow, hopefully it might be worth enough to enable her to rent a cottage when Edna returned, just until the divorce settlement came through.

Divorce.

She sat for a few minutes mulling over the word, taking in the enormity of what she was doing. She was walking away from her marriage of thirty-five years, their family home, and starting afresh. It was a daunting prospect. There had been happy memories here as well as sad ones, especially in the earlier years of their marriage. Their children had grown up here, the house had been filled with the sounds of the children’s laughter once. She and Nigel had loved each other once. Well, at least she had loved him. She had no idea if he had ever really loved her, or had simply seen her as an asset. They had muddled along, but had there ever really been a strong connection? She had never felt that Nigel loved her more than anything in the world, his love had always been conditional on how well she ‘behaved’, how tidy she kept the house, how she played the part of the dutiful wife.

She shook her head. Maybe she was being unkind, dismissing all their years together so lightly, but certainly over the past decade they had grown further and further apart, she could see that now. She had, God willing, twenty or more years to enjoy her life, and she wasn’t going to waste them being a doormat for Nigel. She was going to build a new life for herself, one where she could be who she wanted to be. She was tired of dancing to his tune, she wanted to live her life her way. Scary as it was, and she had no idea what she would do, but she knew that she had made the right decision. Her marriage to Nigel was over.

She finished her drink, put the cup in the dishwasher, picked up her list and went upstairs to pack.

29

Dee stopped off at the post office to get the parcel – it was a gorgeous pale lemon cashmere jumper from Hugh – then headed back down to Port Telwyn. She took her things to Sunset View, leaving them in a corner of the lounge, intending to sort it all out tomorrow when she moved into Edna’s cottage. Then she went out into the garden to see if Snowy was around and was delighted to see him curled up on one of the chairs around the table. She put her phone down on the table and sat down beside him, stroking his head. ‘I guess you’re missing Edna, aren’t you, boy?’

Snowy jumped onto her lap and curled up, purring softly. Dee stroked his soft fur, deep in thought. The last few days with Babs had been exactly what she’d needed. It had taught her to widen her horizons, try different things, be more herself. Her and Babs had always bounced off each other, complimented each other, as best friends should. Babs providing the gaiety and spontaneity and Dee providing the calm and reason that Babs sometimes needed. She was glad that Babs had talked to Geoff and they’d both made up, but she would miss her. Babs’ company had given it all a holiday feel. Now though, she was well and truly on her own. ‘I have you, don’t I, boy, at least until Edna comes back?’ she murmured, and Snowy swished his tail as if he understood. When she’d found herself a permanent home, she’d get herself a cat. Or a dog. Or maybe both, she decided as the little cat nestled deeper into her lap. Dee closed her eyes, rested her head back a little and felt herself relaxing. She could do this.

The ringtone of her phone interrupted her thoughts. She leaned over and glanced at the screen. It was Andi. A friendly voice was exactly what she needed right now. She picked it up and pressed answer. ‘Hi, Andi.’

‘Hi, just wondering how things are going and whether you’ll be at the karaoke tonight?’

Dee smiled, feeling lighter. She had only been here a few days but people had been so welcoming. ‘I’ll be there. But I’m not promising to sing.’

Andi chuckled. ‘You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Mind, you won’t be able to keep me off the stage. I always fancy myself as Madonna once I’ve had a couple of drinks.’

Dee could imagine that. It sounded like a fun evening, just what she needed to take her mind off things. She wished that Babs was still here, she’d be up for a sing-song. She felt a little unsure on her own, she and Babs would have giggled as they decided what to wear. She knew Andi and a few of the others, she’d be fine, she told herself.

A little later, Dee went back inside to get changed, pulling out her new rose trousers from the wardrobe, the pretty black and rose top she’d bought to go with them, and put them on, then studied her reflection in the mirror. She looked so different. Bright, bubbly.

Suddenly her phone rang again. She glanced at the screen, it was Babs wanting a video call. She pressed answer and there was Babs’ friendly face smiling at her. ‘Just checking in to make sure you’re okay before we leave for the hotel,’ Babs told her.

‘I’m good, don’t worry. How are you? Is it good to be home? Are you and Geoff all right now?’

‘Yes to both. I’m looking forward to going actually. A week in the sun will be nice. Are you off to the karaoke? What are you wearing?’

Dee held out the phone so Babs could see.

‘Oh, brilliant! You look totally gorg. What shoes are you wearing?’ Babs asked.

‘I was wondering about that. Maybe my black ankle boots?’

‘You’ll knock them dead.’ Babs grinned at her. ‘Have a good time and send me a video if any of the gang get up and sing a song.’

‘I will,’ Dee promised. ‘Send me lots of photos of Spain.’

They chatted for a little longer then Geoff said it was time to go. He joined Babs, waving to Dee, and she felt so happy for her friend that they’d made up.

The call from Babs had really cheered her up. She pulled on her ankle books and picked up her bag. She could do this.

Suddenly there was knock on the door. Puzzled, Dee went to answer it and found Andi standing on the doorstep. ‘I thought you might want a bit of company walking into the karaoke.’ She paused, noticing Dee’s outfit. ‘Hey, you look great!’

‘Thank you. So do you,’ Dee replied. Andi was dressed in ripped, skinny washed-out jeans, a rust coloured vest and knee length fringed brown suede boots.

‘Ready to go?’ Andi asked.

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