Page 59 of Lost in Translation
‘Oh, around the time I realised you were a philandering git. Now leave me alone before I call your parents. I’m sure they’dloveto know what their darling boy’s been up to.’
Charlotte knew that Torquil and Jean would side with Dom, and blame her for driving him into another woman’s arms. She’d leave it up to Dom to break the news. Her own parents would be upset, but they’d support Charlotte and the boys one hundred per cent. Financially, too, if necessary. Charlotte had no idea whether Dom would make life difficult for her in that respect, but she’d deal with whatever he threw at her.
For the next two hours, Dom swung from begging for forgiveness to accusing Charlotte of judging him too harshly. She wanted to stick her fingers in her ears and shout, ‘Not listening’. Eventually he left her alone, and reappeared half an hour later with a wheeled suitcase. ‘Right, I’m off. I’ll let you sleep on it, and hopefully you’ll see sense in the morning.’ Dom hopped from foot to foot, convinced he had the upper hand.
‘I’ve already seen sense,’ said Charlotte. ‘A night’s sleep won’t change anything.’
Dom banged the front door shut with such force that the windows rattled. Charlotte waited till his car drove away, then made herself a gin and tonic with considerably more gin than tonic. She returned to the sofa, pulling a plaid throw over her legs. Taking a restorative mouthful, she fired off a text to Ruth.
Sent Dom packing, although he doesn’t believe I’m serious. A bit shaky (a large gin’s helping) but there’s no going back. Lots to sort out, obviously, but the first step feels good. Big hugs xxxx
Ruth’s reply came within minutes.
Go girl! Don’t let the bastard wear you down. Here whenever you need me, any time of day or night. Nights are actually great because Jacob isn’t a big fan of sleeping more than an hour at a time. Have another gin for me (bloody bollocking breastfeeding)xxxx
Charlotte chuckled and stretched out with her feet on the coffee table. So much to think about— not least telling the boys — but she allowed herself to imagine a shiny new future. Well, notentirelynew. She hoped they could return to the old family home, at least for now, and prayed that the boys’ school would have places for them. She’d look for a job too; something that fitted around school hours.
A huge yawn took Charlotte by surprise. She finished her drink and took the empty glass to the kitchen. Before she headed upstairs, she picked up her phone again. She opened the message from Jürgen, and typed:
Yes, I’m OK x
Chapter 49
‘It’s a cryin’shame,’ said Hugh, loading up his dispenser with another roll of tape.
‘It is that,’ replied Des, bubble-wrapping a pile of dinner plates and soup bowls. ‘Barely been here five minutes, and they’re off again.’
‘Well, the missus is off again. The boss said — on the quiet, like — they’d split up because the husband did the dirty on her. Jeez, and with two young boys and all. Some blokes don’t know what side their bread’s buttered on.’
‘True, true.’ Des finished the wrapping and moved on to serving platters and random pieces of china. ‘She’s a real looker, I’ll say that. I wouldn’t kick her out of bed for eating crisps—’
‘Thanks for the compliment.’ Charlotte gave a mock-stern look at Dump It. He blushed like a teenager caught looking at a porn channel, and grunted an apology.
‘No offence taken. Now, I’ve hung up most of our clothes on the wardrobe thingies, shoved lots of stuff in the boxes you gave me, and stuck stickies on everything that stays. So please don’t dismantle kitchen blinds, or take down curtains that belong to the house.’
Charlotte swept out of the room with all the grace she could muster. Inside, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She’d done a lot of the latter recently. Less than a year after moving to Switzerland, she was homeward bound. Except this time, four had become three.
Moving to the master bedroom, she perched on the edge of the marital bed. It was freshly made, with her favourite seersucker duvet cover and pristine Egyptian cotton sheets that had cost a fortune. Not that it had been the marital bed for a while; not since Dom had moved out. And Charlotte had resisted all his pleas for a second chance, accompanied by lavish bouquets of flowers, handwritten notes begging for forgiveness and late-night texts filled with vomit-inducing emojis.
Charlotte opened the bedside cabinet drawer. Dom’s side, with a fine film of dust coating its surface. He’d cleared out most of his stuff over the past two weeks, while Charlotte hid at Sadie’s with the boys.
Nestled inside the drawer was one of his collections of cufflinks, most of which had been gifts from Charlotte. She flipped open the small leather case and touched each pair. Miniature golf clubs — not that he’d played since moving to Switzerland;I♥?You Daddyenamel ones gifted by the boys one birthday, and personalised wooden ones with the initials C and D, which Charlotte had bought him for their fifth wedding anniversary. She bit back a laugh which was half sob. Wood to symbolise solidity and durability. What a pathetic joke that was now. Charlotte took the box downstairs and stuffed it in her handbag, lest Hump It or Dump it pack it away with the other bedroom items.
‘Fancy a brew?’ she called out to the dynamic duo. Hearing affirmative grunts, Charlotte boiled the kettle and popped tea bags into three mugs. She dreaded picking up Alastair and Robson later, on what was their last day at school. Charlotte expected tears, mainly from herself and Sadie. While undoubtedly sad to say goodbye to their new friends, the boys were excited to return to their old school.
For now, they were moving back into the family home, until she and Dom figured out the divorce details and financial settlement. They’d found replacement tenants for the Swiss house to avoid being hit with rent for the rest of the contract, and fortuitously, their UK tenants had found a place to buy and had moved out two weeks ago. The entire divorce process made Charlotte feel physically sick, but Ruth had counselled her not to rush into agreeing to anything. ‘Simon’s got a hotshot lawyer friend who’s happy to check things over when you get to that point,’ she said. ‘Dom’s not exactly strapped for cash, and after ten years and two kids you deserve more than your fair share, hon.’
Delivering the tea and a packet of Ginger Nuts to Hugh and Des, Charlotte wandered outside. She shivered, glad of her cardigan and thick socks. A dusting of snow still topped the Alps, achingly beautiful with a blanket of low-lying clouds hugging their jagged peaks. At least the boys had got a ski season in, and their ski trip to Morzine in France. As they were both smitten with the sport, Charlotte had done some research and found a dry ski slope complex half an hour away in the UK. Alastair and Robson needn’t hang up their skis and poles just yet, and Charlotte even contemplated giving it another go herself.Be brave; that’s what Jürgen had said. Her heart lurched at the realisation she’d probably never see him again, unless she bumped into him at school today. Charlotte hoped she didn’t. Some things were never meant to be, but she’d always treasure their friendship. Damn it, she knew that what they had went further than friendship. That kiss remained etched on her soul, as did the regret of how she’d misjudged and falsely accused him.
In two days, Dom would drive Charlotte and the boys to Geneva Airport to make the journey home. The prospect didn’t thrill Charlotte, but she couldn’t deny the boys the chance to say goodbye to their dad. He’d visit them, and they’d fly back to Switzerland during school breaks. Charlotte or Dom would have to accompany them because of their ages, but Sadie had offered her a bed whenever she wanted. As long as Charlotte didn’t have to see Amelie — or as little of her as possible — she could cope. Knowing that woman would be part of the boys’ lives made her sick to the core, but relationship break-ups came with complications. Charlotte didn’t want Alastair and Robson to hate Amelie, but not really liking her would suffice. Anyway, a long-lasting relationship between Dom and Amelie didn’t seem all that likely.
Checking that Hump It and Dump It had everything under control, Charlotte grabbed her coat from a peg in the hallway. She needed some space before the school pickup, time to psyche herself up for what lay ahead.
As Charlotte walked by the lake, her breath puffed out in icy plumes. The weather could turn dramatically here, with early signs of spring already appearing. Tentative buds were peeping out on tree branches, and crocuses and daffodils were nudging their way through the earth. She took a few photos, promising that one day, when she felt strong enough, she’d create an album of memories for Alastair and Robson.
After treating herself to a hot chocolate and a cinnamon-dusted waffle, Charlotte set off for the school. A heavy weight lay in her stomach, and she drove slowly, trying to focus on the positives ahead. For one, she couldn’t wait to be close to Ruth again. Then she could hold Jacob in her arms and inhale his newly minted scent, all talcum powder and milk and those other unidentifiable baby smells.
‘Simon changes nappies!’ Ruth’s patent disbelief that a man —anyone— could muster the courage to remove a steaming pile of baby poo was only matched by her adoration of someone willing to give up the TV remote. ‘And he lets me watchmystuff. No arguing if the footie’s on, or whatever bollocks most men are glued to. Nope, he strolls off with Jacob strapped to his divinely hairy chest while I lie back and channel-hop to my heart’s content.’
