Page 57 of The Runaway Wives

‘That is so kind of you. Are you absolutely sure? I will pay you rent of course,’ she added.

‘A minimum rent to cover the bills would be appreciated, and I wonder if you could look after Snowy for me until I come back? It sounds like he’s taken to you.’

‘Of course I will,’ Dee promised. ‘I’ll send you regular updates so you can see how he’s getting on.’

They talked for a bit longer, agreeing a very affordable rent in exchange for Dee keeping the house tidy and contributing to any bills. Edna said that it would be at least a month before she was ready to come back. ‘And when I do, you’re welcome to stay until you can find your own place to live. It would be nice to have the company,’ Edna told her.

That was wonderful news. Dee felt a lot more positive when she finished the call, hopefully it wouldn’t take too long to sort out the divorce settlement and the sale of the house then she could get a home of her own. Until then she was happy to stay here. It was so kind of Edna.

Things were turning out better than she had ever expected.

38

BABS

Friday

‘There! What do you think?’ Maria, the estate agent, asked, sweeping her arms to indicate the panoramic view of the coast in front of them.

It was beautiful, breathtaking, Babs acknowledged. All the apartments Maria had shown them today had been modern, clean, gorgeously decorated and furnished. Like something out of a magazine. But they still didn’t feel like a home. Not the sort of home that she could relax in. She was sure that Geoff would feel the same after a while. At the moment it seemed he would settle for anything she wanted as long as they could live in Spain.

The trouble is, she knew now for definite that she didn’t want to live in Spain.

Geoff was leaning over the balcony, exclaiming in admiration. ‘Es maravilloso. I could sit here all day.’

‘It’s beautiful, but it’s very quiet.’ Babs didn’t want to keep putting downers on it but there was no way she could live anywhere like this. She’d be bored. She could see that Geoff liked it though. What should she do? She could understand that his health scare had made him rethink his life. It had shocked her too. Now though, she felt that they were at a crossroads. She’d thought her and Geoff would grow old together, sitting there holding hands in their twilight years, reminiscing about the past. She never dreamed that once they both retired, their lives would be turned upside down.

Maria excused herself to take a call from another prospective buyer, warning them that, ‘You must decide quick or it will be gone.’ She left them to sit on the terrace with a glass of fresh orange juice each, to discuss their decision.

Beside her Geoff coughed, trying to get her to look at him. Babs kept her gaze fixed firmly on the sea, trying to work out what to say to him. ‘You hate it, don’t you? You don’t want to move to Spain?’ he asked quietly.

Babs looked out at the sea, felt the warmth of the sun on her arms and closed her eyes. She tried to imagine this being her life. Just her and Geoff living here in this apartment. Then she thought of Molly and Lennon and the children she hoped they would have someday, the shops she loved to browse around, going to the theatre, meeting up with Dee, all the things she loved to do in the UK. She thought about living in Spain, getting used to the heat, the mosquitos – she swatted one away, groaning when she saw the tell-tale red swelling on her arm – struggling to understand the language. That had been a real problem this week although English was spoken a lot in the coastal areas.

‘No, I don’t.’ She forced herself to meet his eyes and swallowed when she saw the sadness there. ‘I’m sorry, Geoff, but I definitely don’t want to live here.’

He looked shrunken, defeated, the sparkle had gone out of him like the air from a balloon when you prick it.

I’ve stopped him living his dream,she thought sadly.But it’s my life too and if I come out here, I won’t be happy.

They told Maria their decision and she shook her head as if in disbelief.

They barely spoke on their way back to their villa and Babs felt that they’d lost something. The past few weeks there had been a distance between them but now it was a chasm. For years they had been a team, united, bringing up their family together, running the shop, overcoming all the hurdles that had come their way, but all that was gone and now they were as awkward with each other as if they were strangers. It was horrible.

And there was only one way she could see to fix it.

39

DEE

Saturday

Mid-morning on Saturday a message pinged in from Simon. He was auctioning Dee’s grandmother’s brooch today.

What’s the lowest offer you want me to accept?

She considered this. She had no idea what the brooch was worth, Simon said about £4,000, but she would be grateful for anything. She sent a text back.

What do you suggest?

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