Page 44 of The Runaway Wives

Dee nodded and pulled the door shut behind her. She really appreciated Andi calling for her, she felt more at ease going to The Pirate’s Head now.

The rest of the gang were already at the pub when they arrived that evening. Cath waved them over to two empty chairs.

‘Just in time, the karaoke starts in five minutes,’ Kenny said. ‘Fancy doing a song?’

Dee was about to refuse when Andi glanced at her, a big grin on her face. ‘How about singing “These boots are made for walking” with me?’

Her eyes were twinkling with mischief and suddenly Dee wanted to join in, wanted to act impulsively, to laugh, to dance and sing. ‘Perfect!’ she agreed.

It was a lively evening. Kenny was the first one up and he sang ‘Save the Last Dance For Me’ in a surprisingly deep, soulful voice, his eyes resting on Dee’s as he sang the chorus. Then Cath and Stu got up and sang ‘Does Your Mother Know?’ with hilarious antics, and another couple sang the smoochy ‘I’ve Got You, Babe’. They were obviously in love, and it made Dee think of Babs and Geoff as it was their song. She remembered them both dancing to it at their wedding, and Geoff had crooned it to Babs once when they’d both got a little tiddly. Nigel had disapproved, of course. Dee videoed that, and Cath and Stu’s song, and sent it to Babs. She knew her friend would enjoy seeing them.

Then it was Dee and Andi’s turn. Everyone at the table cheered them on as they both walked over to the karaoke area, Andi playing to the crowd, waving and bowing, Dee feeling very self-conscious. She’d hadn’t done karaoke since her student days! She soon got into the stride of it though, it was difficult not to with Andi’s enthusiasm, and they both exaggeratedly stamped across the stage as they sang the chorus and Dee imagined herself stamping over Nigel – metaphorically of course. When they finished, they were greeted with claps, cheers and whistles. Andi’s eyes were sparkling and Dee felt her cheeks flushing. She hadn’t enjoyed herself so much for ages.

‘You two were fab,’ Kenny said as they took their seats. ‘I’ve videoed it and will send it to you later. I’m sure Babs would love to see it.’

‘Thank you.’ Dee picked up her glass for a much-needed drink. Babs would be astonished when she saw that, she thought with a giggle.

It was Glenn’s turn next. As he took the mic and coughed to clear his throat, the pub went silent, as if they’d heard Glenn sing before and it had been worth listening to.

He started singing Roy Orbison’s ‘Crying’ and you could hear a pin drop. Dee swallowed the lump in her throat as she listened to the poignant words, which she was sure were a tribute to his late wife. How sad to have that kind of love, and lose it. She had never loved Nigel that way, nor him her, she realised.

She felt so comfortable with this group, and life down here in Port Telwyn, as if she belonged. She hoped that somehow she could stay here, become part of this community that she’d already grown to love.

30

SATURDAY

A text came through from Nigel as Dee was eating breakfast the next morning. He’d obviously arrived home now.

I thought that once you calmed down you might have realised how ridiculous you were being!

She ignored it and finished her bowl of cornflakes.

The phone rang. She answered it automatically. ‘You’re making more of this than it is. I met Chrissie on the golf course and we went sightseeing together. There’s nothing more to it than that. Those photos have been doctored,’ Nigel told her, his tone soft and persuasive.

‘Why would Yvonne’s friend doctor photos of both Andrew and you with other women? And what about the video? Are you suggesting she computer generated it?’

‘I wouldn’t put it past her. She’s never liked Andrew so she’s causing trouble.’

‘But why cause trouble for you?’

‘Look, darling, you know what it’s like when you’re away. You get friendly with people?—’

‘You promised me that you wouldn’t cheat on me again. And this was my birthday week! You went off with someone else on my sixtieth birthday.’

‘That’s what all this is about, is it? Because I went away on your birthday! You’ve been away too. And you’re still away!’

‘Only because you left me on my own. And I haven’t been with another man.’

‘So you haven’t even talked to another man all the time you’ve been down there?’ There was an edge to his voice and Dee felt her cheeks flush as she thought of Kenny. Nothing improper had gone on with her and Kenny, she reminded herself. They were old friends.

‘I’ve had enough of this! You’ve cheated on me. AGAIN. We’re finished.’ She ended the call.

She sat trembling for a while, she couldn’t believe that she’d actually stood up to Nigel. She made herself a cup of strong coffee and pulled herself together. She couldn’t fall apart. She wasn’t going to let him break her down. She had too much to do. She had to hand the keys in for Sunset View this morning and before then she had to pack and move her things to Edna’s, then meet Kenny at eleven.

For a moment she felt overwhelmed by it all. Was she doing the right thing? Uprooting herself miles away from everything she knew. Staying at Edna’s was only temporary. Her job at the café was only temporary. Would she be able to find somewhere permanent to live and a job?

Another text pinged in. She took a deep breath then opened it.

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