Page 47 of The Runaway Wives

* * *

Dee had been so busy helping that she hadn’t had time to join in Kenny’s painting workshop, but she’d enjoyed the day, which was followed by a pleasant evening with Kenny and the others at The Pirate’s Head. When she finally got back to Primrose Cottage Dee fed Snowy then rolled into bed, exhausted.

She awoke to find sun streaming through a gap in the curtains and someone ringing the door bell.Goodness, morning already!

The rings were more persistent now, as whoever it was had their finger pressed permanently on the bell. She glanced at her phone. No messages and – gosh, it was gone eleven – she must have literally zonked out! Who wanted her so urgently on a Sunday morning? Pulling on her dressing gown she went down to find out. Opening the front door she was astonished to see Nigel standing on the doorstep.

‘Annabel told me where you were staying, so I thought I’d come and see you, talk this misunderstanding through face to face,’ he said firmly.

He must have driven down more or less as soon as he woke up this morning she realised.

Much as she didn’t want to let him in, she didn’t want to be arguing with him on the doorstep, so she led the way into the lounge, determined not to offer him refreshments, or make him welcome in any way.

Nigel glanced around dismissively then sat down in one of the armchairs. Dee took a seat opposite him, her nerves on edge.

Nigel was at his most persuasive. ‘Look, Dee, can’t we put this all behind us and get on with our lives? Arguing is so pointless. I promise I’ll make up for going away on your birthday. I’ll book us a holiday together. You name where you want to go.’

‘I don’t want to go away with you. I don’t want to live with you. I’ve had enough of our one-sided marriage,’ Dee told him.

His face contorted in anger. ‘You’ve had a bloody good life with me, Dee. A nice house, no money problems, you’ve wanted for nothing.’

‘Except a husband who loves me, who puts me first now and again.’

‘For God’s sake, woman, we’ve been together thirty-odd years. Surely you’ve gone past harking after all that sloppiness now.’

‘Well, you haven’t. You just prefer to do it with someone else.’ Dee met his eyes. ‘Are you still in touch with her?’

‘With who?’

‘The woman you went to Portugal with.’

He couldn’t meet her eyes. He was lying.

‘Don’t bother to answer. I know that you are. Well, that’s fine. You’re welcome to her. I’m done. I’ve told you, I want a divorce.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous! How will you live? You can’t afford to rent a place, without my money you won’t have an income.’ He sneered. ‘I’ve warned you I’ll stop your bank cards, and I mean it. I’m not funding your lifestyle when you’ve deserted me.’

Anger soared through her. How bloody dare he! Making out she was deserting him when he had cheated on her, time and time again, never mind the appalling way he’d treated her. ‘Do your worst, I’ll manage until the divorce settlement,’ she told him firmly. ‘I’m entitled to half the house, and some money from the business. I was your unpaid PA for most of our marriage.’

‘I’ll be damned if I sell the house and give you half,’ he stuttered.

‘You’ll be damned if you don’t. We can separate quietly, if you agree to me having half the house and a financial settlement. Or we can fight this through the courts, and believe me, Nigel, I know enough about your shady dealings to bring down your company and leave you penniless. So, what’s it going to be?’ She couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of her mouth, that she was actually standing up to Nigel.

Nigel looked incredulous too. He was so red-faced, she thought that he might explode. ‘How dare you blackmail me!’

‘And how dare you cheat on me, again, and expect me to keep turning a blind eye!’ She folded her arms. ‘I’m serious, Nigel. I want a divorce and a fair settlement.’ She paused. ‘And seeing as you insisted that I didn’t work once the children came along, so I couldn’t have an income of my own throughout our marriage, you can pay the rent on my home until the divorce goes through, and my solicitor’s fees. Obviously if you don’t fight the divorce and go for a fair settlement, those fees will be less.’

His face drained of colour. ‘I don’t know what’s happened to you, Deirdre, but you’ve changed. You’re cold, and hard, and money-grabbing.’

‘I’ve woken up to how you treat me and am no longer prepared to be walked all over,’ Dee told him. ‘I’ll get my solicitor to contact you regarding the financial settlement. And I’ll be back in a week or so to pack the rest of my things.’ She nodded. ‘Goodbye, Nigel. Enjoy your life, because I certainly will enjoy mine.’ She opened the front door.

She was shaking after he left. She didn’t know how she’d found the courage to stand up to him face to face. Nigel always had a way of talking her round, making her think she was being unreasonable, making her feel like she’d imagined things.

Well, not this time.

Then she remembered his repeated threat to cancel her bank cards and Andi’s comment when she’d told her about it. She picked up her laptop, signed into their joint bank account and transferred a considerable sum of cash into her private account.

Then she texted Babs and told her the latest developments.

---