Page 8 of The Runaway Wives

‘No, he’s gone off on a golfing holiday to Portugal with his friends,’ Dee said matter-of-factly. ‘He booked it at the last minute.’

‘What! And you let him go?’ Annabel exploded.

‘I couldn’t really stop him, could I?’ Dee replied. ‘Anyway I’m off myself, you’ve just caught me.’

‘Where are you going?’ Annabel asked. ‘Hallie seems much better today so we were planning on driving over tomorrow, to bring your cards and presents.’

‘That’s very kind of you, darling, but I’ve booked a cottage in Cornwall for a week. I’m going with Babs. Save the presents until I return and we’ll have a get-together then.’

‘If you’re sure, Mum. Text me your address in Cornwall though and I can at least post your cards, they should arrive on Monday. Better a couple of days late than a week late!’

‘Bless you, darling, I’ll text it over in a few minutes. Now I’ve got to go, we’re all ready to set off. I’ll speak to you later.’

‘Have a lovely time, Mum. You deserve it,’ Annabel said. ‘Dad’s unbelievable sometimes.’

You can say that again, Dee thought. Although she had to admit, a big part of her was happier she was going away to Cornwall with Babs than she’d have been going to Portugal with Nigel.

5

BABS

They’d been travelling for about an hour when Babs also had a call from her daughter. ‘Are you home tomorrow? I’ve got a stay-over and thought I’d pop in to see you.’

‘No, I’m not in. I’m on my way to Cornwall with Dee for her sixtieth birthday. Your father is in though. Why don’t you go and see him?’

‘You’re going away without Dad?’ Molly sounded surprised.

‘I bloody well am and I might not come back. Your dad has decided he’s selling the house and going to live in Spain, whether I agree or not.’

‘What? You’re kidding, Mum!’

‘I wish I was!’

‘I’ll talk to him, Mum. He’s being ridiculous!’

‘Good luck with that one!’

‘I’ll get back to you later, Mum. Don’t worry, I’m sure we can sort this out,’ Molly told her. ‘And tell Dee Happy Birthday from me. I hope you both have a good time.’

Babs guessed that Molly would be straight on the phone to her father. Well, he’ll be shocked when Molly tells him that Babs had actually gone away. That would give him something to think about.

She looked out of the window. They were still on the M5. Her head was aching and she fidgeted in her seat. Dee seemed fine, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. Dee was like that though, calm and unflappable. Babs would be raging if Geoff had gone away with his mates on her birthday, especially a big one like sixty. ‘How much longer before we get there?’

‘About an hour and half. Shall we stop for a break?’ Dee suggested.

Babs nodded. ‘I could do with a coffee and a trip to the loo.’

Dee pulled in at the next service station and Babs went to the loo while Dee ordered the coffees. When Babs returned Dee was seated at a red plastic table for two, with two milky coffees in front of her, looking wistfully at her phone.

‘What’s up?’ Babs pulled out the plastic chair opposite her friend.

Dee raised her eyes, she looked a bit troubled. ‘I’ve had another message from Nigel. It’s quite a lovely message, really. He’s about to go on the golf course but said he’s sorry again he forgot my birthday and he’ll book us both a holiday together when he comes home to make up for it.’ She chewed the inside of her lip. ‘Perhaps he did genuinely forget.’

‘That’s not the point, Dee. He shouldn’t forget. Sixty is a big birthday. He should have planned something special for you. And it’s not the first time he’s forgotten your birthday, is it?’

‘He’s busy?—’

‘And you’re his wife.’ Babs stirred sugar into her drink. ‘Look, if Nigel can swan off to Portugal without you for a week, then what’s wrong with you going on holiday too?’

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