Page 19 of My Turkish Fling
“My sons are coming down for the holidays.”
Tabitha gave a knowing nod, her eyes solemn. “Life certainly throws us curve balls, doesn’t it?”
I smiled, switching on the milk steamer, happy for the loud hiss that would soon drown out her voice. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
She left me to it and I relished my short break, taking my time with the coffees. As much as they got on my nerves, Tabitha and Maree were part of the package. Napier was a small town, and they were involved in every committee. The film office I ran regularly needed their help. If I wanted to make this place my home, I had to stay on their good side.
We’d started off fine, with polite invitations and endless admiration for my wardrobe, skin, hair, perfume… There wasn’t a part of my appearance Tabitha hadn’t made a point of loudly approving of. Her comments made me feel equal parts flattered and uncomfortable. Even if I passed the assessment, I felt like I was under the microscope—much like I’d been in Auckland, on morning TV. And it was that constant scrutiny I’d chosen to leave behind me. Back then, I’d had the income to keep myself inanti-aging serums and regular treatments, and even then, felt like I was always lacking. Compared to those days, I now lived like a wild woman. By choice, I might add. Yet, I felt like Tabitha and her ladies expected me ‘as seen on TV’. Which was why I suspected their gracious comments were rather embellished. They wanted a celebrity friend and knew what to say. And I was needy and lonely enough to go along with it.
But now our symbiotically dysfunctional friendship had hit the rocks. Ever since my divorce, I didn’t fit their social group. Tabitha and Maree were married to high profile men—a retired investment banker and the owner of the local supermarket. I’d been introduced to them as part of a power couple including Shaun. And now I was a single woman running a farm by myself. As much as Tabitha and Maree wanted to appear supportive, my single status bothered them. It was something to fix.
I took two coffees to the dining room, setting them down next to a newspaper. Wait. A newspaper? I didn’t subscribe to any papers. I’d been on a blissful media fast ever since I’d quit my job.
Tabitha cleared her throat, a sound that immediately gave me shivers.
I scanned the paper for my own name and face, like I always did, but it was something worse. Shaun. Shaun and his new girlfriend. A baby bump. My eyes landed on the rounded shape of Kelly’s stomach. Woman half my age. Such a cliché. Shaun had turned my life into a cliché.
“We saw this and thought you might need some emotional support.” Maree’s eyes rounded in sympathy as she pulled out achair for me.
I sat, almost against my will, my mind spinning. Was I supposed to know about this? Was I supposed to pretend like I knew about it? As much as I hated playing that part, the alternative was so much worse. I couldn’t show weakness. These vultures would clamp onto me and never let go.
I smiled as brightly as I could. “Let’s hope Shaun has the energy to do it all again. He’s not getting any younger.”
Tabitha slapped the newspaper and cackled. “That’s what I said! Didn’t I?” She turned to Maree, who nodded animatedly, her eyes filled with adoration. “It’s great that you’re taking this in your stride. You’re such an inspiration.”
I knew how to keep smiling. How to keep myself composed while the cameras were still rolling. It shouldn’t have been this hard.
“Easy for men. They can start again. A new wife, new family. But at our age…” Tabitha shook her head, finally taking a sip of coffee.
I wanted to hold her nose and pour it all in, to keep her mouth occupied.
“Good thing I don’t want to start a new family.” My smile didn’t waver, but my fingers curled around the edge of the table. There’d be nail marks later.
Tabitha shifted back in her chair. “Of course. I didn’t mean having kids but just… starting over. With someone else. It’s a bit different for women, don’t you think? Not a great selection out there unless you’re shopping in the junior section.” Her eyes widened in horror. “I mean, we know how to keep the goods from spoiling, but the men are hardly giving us the same courtesy.” Sheran a finger up the edge of her jawline, demonstrating how much money she paid to keep her skin from sagging.
The image of Emir flashed behind my eyes. He was my junior. I wondered by how many years. Too many for this company.
“Double standards,” Maree echoed, gathering the empty coffee cups to take to the kitchen.
“I’m only 41,” I said, anger bubbling in my chest. “That’s not old.”
“And you look after yourself,” Tabitha confirmed. “You must be happy now that you put in the effort. Some women get married and let themselves go. They think they’ll never have to put themselves out there again.” She straightened her spine, highlighting her firm physique. She was five years older than me, and unbelievably perky.
I got to my feet and picked up the menemen pan and carried it to the kitchen island, to create a bit of distance between us. “I’m not looking to put myself out there. I enjoy my own company.”
Tabitha stood up as well and leapt to my side. “Of course. But, we all need someone. It’s a lot of work to take care of a place this big. Did you get a good settlement?”
“I did okay,” I muttered. To call it good would have been a blatant lie.
Tabitha sensed a sore spot and lifted her finger. I almost braced myself for a physical poke. “He shafted you, didn’t he? They know how to hide the money. Needs every penny for the new family, right? Happened to my friend Mary, but she found out, took him to court.”
I briefly closed my eyes, gathering my resolve. “I’m okay. I’ll manage.” I didn’t have money for more lawyers.
Tabitha edged even closer, rubbing her ice cold hand up and down my bathrobe sleeve. Her head tilted in sympathy and voice turned into a low purr. “Are you, though? We saw the broken fences. It’s been weeks since the floods.”
I circled her, picked up the frying pan again and busied myself with moving the rest of the eggs into a glass container. “It’s okay. I’ve hired some help.”
Her eyes widened. “Have you? That’s great! Who did you book? Harry?”
