Page 63 of The Runaway Wives

‘You don’t know unless you talk to him about it,’ Lennon told her.

Babs had no idea what to say. Her kids seemed convinced that there was a way around this but she couldn’t see one. ‘Maybe I’ll phone your dad later.’

‘Better still, talk to him now… He’s in the car. He wanted to come down with us.’

Babs was dumbfounded. This was a turn of events she hadn’t expected.

‘Mum?’ Molly looked at her beseechingly. ‘Please at least try. You’re both unhappy so what have you got to lose?’

She looked at her son and daughter. Molly had taken leave to come to see her, Lennon was a workaholic, but had clearly taken time off to pick up Molly and Geoff then drive down to talk to her. She nodded slowly. ‘Okay, but I’m not promising anything.’

* * *

Geoff came in and Molly and Lennon made an excuse about wanting to explore the village, and headed out.

‘Hello, Babs,’ Geoff said quietly.

‘Geoff.’ She was at a loss what to say but Geoff continued.

‘We need to talk, Babs, you’ve got it all wrong. I don’t want to live in Spain without you. I don’t want to live anywhere without you.’ He pulled out a chair and sat down, resting his head on his hands. ‘I’ve been a fool. I told you that lump gave me a scare. It knocked me sideways. I felt like I hadn’t done enough with my life. I wanted a new adventure before I got too old, but all I’ve done is wrecked the happy life we had together.’ He lifted his head and the love shone from his eyes. ‘I don’t want a place in the sun, Babs. I want to live my life to the fullest with you, the woman I adore. Please come back home.’

Babs went to him immediately and wrapped her arms around him. ‘Oh, Geoff, I don’t want to live without you either.’ They hugged each other tight and it felt so good to have Geoff’s arms around her.

‘I’m sorry, love, causing all this stress,’ Geoff mumbled.

Babs took a breath. ‘The kids and Dee both suggested we buy a holiday home in Spain…’ It wasn’t what she wanted, but she didn’t want to lose Geoff either.

Geoff shook his head. ‘The truth is, Babs,’ he paused, ‘when we went to Spain to look at the houses, I realised that I didn’t want to live there, but I felt so foolish after all the trouble I’d caused that I didn’t like to admit it. I pretended to be enthusiastic because I didn’t want to back down after causing all that fuss. I guess I just wanted to do more with my life and I seized on that as the answer, but it isn’t.’

‘Then let’s do more. Let’s plan some weekends away, there’s lots of the UK we haven’t seen. Or go on more holidays, a cruise even.’

Geoff nodded. ‘It’s worth a try. Anything’s worth a try for us to be together.’ He touched her cheek with his hand. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve been pig-headed. I should have talked about this with you. And I’ll never forgive myself for saying it wasn’t your house. I don’t know what came over me.’

‘I think we’re both as stubborn as each other. We dig our heels in and that’s it,’ Babs said.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. ‘All this has made me realise just how much you mean to me. Can we put it all behind us and start again, do you think? Will you come back home?’

‘It’s made me realise how much I love you too. And yes, I’d love to come back home.’ They hugged and kissed again.

‘Let’s promise each other that we won’t be so stubborn again. We almost lost each other and I couldn’t bear that,’ Geoff said, a choke in his voice.

‘Neither could I.’ Babs squeezed his hand tight. ‘Now, let’s message and tell the kids the good news, then I’ll tell Dee too. She’s working in the café today. She’ll be so happy for us.’

Molly and Lennon messaged back to say they were having breakfast in a café the other side of town and would be back in a couple of hours.

‘Is that where Dee works?’ Geoff asked.

‘No, she works in the café by the harbour. I think the kids are giving us a bit of space.’ Babs picked up her handbag. ‘Maybe we can have some breakfast too.’

They walked down the hill towards Moira’s Café, arm in arm.

‘Dee’s definitely divorcing Nigel then, after his shenanigans?’

‘There’s no way she’ll forgive him this time. She’s not been happy with him for a long time and this was the last straw. She’s going to buy a cottage and live down here.’

‘A fresh start then,’ Geoff said. ‘Very brave of her, but I’m glad she’s leaving Nigel, I never did like him. I hope she won’t be lonely here though.’

Babs pushed open the door of the café. Dee was sitting at the table in the window, beside Kenny. Papers were spread out on the table in front of them and they were both laughing. ‘She’s got a lot of friends here already. I’ve never seen anything like it! She’s like the Dee I first met at school. I think she’ll be fine,’ Babs said.

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