Page 23 of The Forever Cottage

‘I wondered if there was anyone you could recommend, a good divorce solicitor, someone who obviously doesn’t know Charles.’

‘Ah right, I see. Yes, there are a couple of names that immediately spring to mind and I can certainly give you those, and make an introduction. That’s not a problem at all.’

‘Great. That would be really helpful. Thanks.’

‘I hope you don’t think I’m talking out of turn, but are you sure there’s no going back for you and Charles? The break-up is relatively recent. I only ask because I’ve seen it with other couples, reuniting after months, sometimes years, apart. If there’s the remotest chance that you and Charles could resume your relationship one day then I would caution you to hang fire for a while.’

‘Is there a chance you might get back with Sabine then?’ Tess surprised herself on two counts: firstly, for remembering Nico’s ex’s name, and also for the sharpness of her tone.

Nico gave a small shake of his head. ‘No, but it was different. We weren’t married, nor had we been together as many years as you and Charles. I meant no offence by it. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t making any emotional or rash decisions.’

Hadn’t Charles accused her of the same?

‘No, I’m sorry.’ She gave an apologetic smile. ‘I shouldn’t have snapped. I suppose it is an emotional and knee-jerk decision, but I’m certain it’s the right one. I don’t want the end of our marriage to be hanging over me for months or years; I want to get everything sorted as quickly as possible. Even if Charles’s new relationship doesn’t work out, there could never be any going back for us. I won’t change my mind about this,’ she said, never feeling more certain about anything in her life.

‘Fair enough. In that case, I’d be happy to suggest these people.’ Nico pulled out another of his business cards and scribbled the name of a solicitor on the back and the practice. ‘I know Deborah personally. She’s friendly, very good at her job and will fight tooth and nail to get you the best possible deal. She certainly won’t be intimidated by the likes of Charles.’

‘She sounds like just the sort of person I need,’ Tess said, feeling immediately reassured.

‘Have a look on the website and if you’re happy with what you see, let me know and I’ll put you in touch. It might help to move things on quickly in the first instance.’

‘Thanks, Nico.’ Instinctively, she reached out and laid her hand on his. It had seemed such a natural thing to do, but looking at her hand resting on his, she suddenly felt embarrassed by the intimacy of the touch. After thirty years of looking at just one man, suddenly, her perspective was changing, interacting with the men that she was meeting in a new and different way, evoking strange and unsettling feelings. She supposed she was missing Charles’s physical presence, his solid form next to her in bed, his hand on her shoulder as he walked past her, the kiss on her cheek when he’d left for work in the morning because none of those things had ever stopped. Small intimacies that had made her feel cherished and loved. Now, she shook away those thoughts and gently pulled away her hand from Nico’s and he lifted his gaze to look at hers; she was certain he must have noticed the frisson that passed between them too.

‘Charles’s not going to like it, that’s for sure,’ she said, subtly readjusting herself on the kitchen stool where they were sitting at the island, putting some distance between them. ‘He won’t be expecting me to start proceedings. He’s the one who likes to call the shots, to be in control, so I know he’ll be surprised by me taking a lead on this. I’ll simply have to prepare myself for his reaction. It’s not going to be pretty.’

‘Don’t take any nonsense from him. Let Deborah, or whoever you decide to appoint, deal with the flak. Who knows, perhaps Charles will be magnanimous and willing to meet you halfway in any settlement. It doesn’t have to be combative.’

Tess raised her eyebrows, looking at him doubtfully. ‘Well, you know what Charles is like,’ she said with a sigh.

‘I do, indeed,’ he said, suitably tight-lipped.

‘I get the impression you’re not terribly keen on Charles,’ she ventured with a questioning look.

Nico gave a nonchalant shrug. ‘We were never best buddies. I found him to be abrasive, and unreasonable sometimes in his dealings with the team at Starlings. I’ve seen him reduce an assistant to tears on several occasions. There’s no need for that when you’re in a position of power.’

Tess nodded. It wasn’t news to her. She knew better than anyone what he was like. He would often come home from work in a foul mood and she would pour him a drink and listen as he ranted on about the grievances of his day, how he was surrounded by incompetence, and how if it wasn’t for him then nothing would get achieved within the business. Tess had listened attentively to his complaints, soothing his frazzled ego and reassuring him that he was absolutely in the right, as always. She’d definitely been complicit in creating the monster he’d become at work.

‘When I first met you,’ Nico went on, ‘I couldn’t believe how lovely you were; you didn’t fit with the image in my head of what Charles’s wife would be like.’

‘Well, I think I’ll take that as a compliment,’ she said, laughing.

‘You should.’

‘When you’ve been married to someone for such a long time, it’s easy to believe that you know that person inside out, but it’s clear with Charles that I only saw the person I wanted to see: the man I fell in love with all those years ago. When you discover that the reality is different then it makes you doubt everything that you’ve ever known.’

‘It hurts.’

‘It really does. A friend of mine even suggested that Charles has probably had affairs before. That was something I’d never even considered, but now I wonder if it is true.’ She hadn’t intended to put Nico on the spot, but the unasked question hung there as her gaze appraised him.

‘I couldn’t say,’ he finally answered with a shrug.

Couldn’tor wouldn’t, mused Tess, but it was probably best not to pursue that line of thought or to press Nico any further.

‘No, I suppose it doesn’t matter now,’ she said resignedly.

‘Look, you know if you need a listening ear or some moral support at any time then just give me a call.’ Now it was Nico’s turn to place his hand on Tess’s, which only proved that it was simply a gesture of support between two new friends. Perhaps she’d imagined the fizz of electricity that she thought had previously passed between them or the way Nico’s brown eyes locked onto hers. Clearly, she couldn’t trust her emotions if the kindness of a relative stranger was enough to make her entertain all sorts of fanciful thoughts.

‘Thanks, Nico. I appreciate your support. It feels like a big step to take, but one that has to be done, I guess.’ The sooner she started the process, the sooner it would be over, she told herself. ‘Can I get you another coffee?’ she asked, noticing his empty mug.

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