Page 33 of The Runaway Wives

When they finally came to the heart-shaped stone, Babs wasn’t impressed. ‘I’d expect a giant’s heart to be bigger than that!’ She turned to Dee. ‘Did your kids ever say they heard the heart beat?’

‘They thought they did, but you know kids. They’ve got big imaginations. I never heard anything. Fancy seeing if you can hear it?’

‘No chance! If I kneel down there I’ll never get back up again,’ Babs declared.

Dee laughed. ‘I don’t think I would either! I was a lot fitter back then.’ She had lovely memories of their holidays in Cornwall. She wouldn’t call them family holidays exactly, as Nigel was rarely with them, and when he did join them he only stayed a day or two. She wondered if Annabel and Hugh remembered those times. And now here she was back again, on her own this time – apart from Babs, that is. And to think that Kenny had come back to live here too. It was almost as if something had pulled her down here.

The village was fascinating, once home to over 300 islanders. There were still about thirty families that lived there, commuting over to the mainland to go to school, work or shop. As an ancient island, it was steeped in history and both Babs and Dee were fascinated to see bronze cast footprints of King Charles, Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria set in the cobbled harbour pathway.

‘This was definitely worth a visit,’ Babs said as they walked back over the causeway. ‘I’m knackered now though.’

‘Too knackered to pop into The Pirate’s Head tonight?’ Dee asked mischievously.

‘Absolutely not. But I’ll need a short nap first,’ Babs replied.

* * *

‘Wow! You look fantastic, Dee. That colour really suits you!’ Cath said when Dee, wearing her red maxi dress, joined Cath, Stu, Kenny and Flic at the table later that evening. Babs was at the bar getting the drinks. She’d insisted that she buy the first round.

Dee felt a flush of pleasure, especially when she saw the approval in Kenny’s eyes too. ‘Thanks. Babs persuaded me to go for a brighter colour,’ she said.

‘She was right to, you should wear bright colours more often,’ Kenny said. ‘Maybe not as vivid as Babs though,’ he added. ‘That sure is a dazzling pink.’ Then his eyes widened as he stared at something behind her. ‘What are you two drinking?’

‘Spritzers,’ Dee said, puzzled. She turned to see Babs carrying a tray holding two black cocktails with a frothy surface. No wonder she’d insisted on getting the drinks first.

‘That’s not a spritzer,’ Stu observed as Babs put the tray down on the table.

‘No, it’s an Espresso Martini,’ Babs replied. She handed one of the glasses to Dee. ‘Try it, you’ll love it.’

Dee took a sip and shuddered. ‘Wow! There’s a strong coffee shot in here!’

‘I don’t think it’s the caffeine you have to worry about,’ Kenny said, amused.

‘Why don’t you all try one? My treat?’ Babs said. She was up and at the bar before anyone could object, returning a little later with six more of the dark cocktails. ‘I got us another one,’ she told Dee.

‘That’s so generous of you, thank you.’ Cath picked up a glass and took a sip. ‘It’s strong but I like it.’

As they all tucked into the cocktails, the conversation got louder and merrier. Babs turned up the juke box while Kenny got the next round and by the time it was Cath’s round they were all dancing to the music and several of the other customers had joined in.

Dee threw her head back, laughing as she danced the twist with Kenny. It had been so good to get away and enjoy herself.

The trouble was she was enjoying herself so much, she couldn’t escape the feeling that she really didn’t want to go home.

23

BABS

Wednesday

When Babs woke up her bones were aching from all the sightseeing yesterday and the dancing last night, and her head was thumping. She reached for the glass of water and the packet of paracetamol she’d left on the bedside cabinet, guessing she might need them in the morning after the session at The Pirate’s Head. It had been a fun evening, but it had made her miss Geoff even more. It had been good to see Dee let her hair down and enjoy herself though, Babs always felt that Nigel stifled her and didn’t allow her to be her true self. Whereas Geoff… Babs threw the light duvet back and padded over to the window staring across the rooftops to the sea. She and Geoff had been good together, happy. How had it all gone so wrong so quickly?

Her phone rang and she hurried over to it, glancing at the screen and biting back the disappointment when she saw that it wasn’t Geoff, as she’d hoped, but Molly.

‘Hello, darling.’

‘Mum, Dad said that you’re going to divorce him. You’re not, are you?’

Babs chewed her lip. ‘He’s not leaving me much choice, is he? He’s determined to go and live in perishing Spain, no matter how I feel about it. So that will be our home sold. I’ll be homeless.’

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