On Sunday morning, Betty was thinking about Paula. She had been sickened by what she’d heard, her heart going out to the poor girl. Paula was a lot younger than her own daughter, with none of Anne’s self–assurance. She was so tiny, only just over five feet tall, with dull blonde hair and baby blue eyes. Her clothes were dowdy, her face bare of make–up, hiding the fact, Betty was sure, that Paula was actually a pretty young woman.
When there was a knock on her door she hurried to open it, delighted to see her daughter. ‘Anne, how lovely to see you–and on a Sunday for a change. Did you have a nice holiday? And what happened to my postcard? You’ve been back a week but it still hasn’t arrived.’
‘Hello, Mum. Sorry about the postcard, but I didn’t get a chance to send any. Mel was taken ill and Dad was worried about her.’
‘You didn’t tell me that your father and Mel were going with you.’
‘Didn’t I?’
Betty was about to retort when there was another knock on the door. She opened it, her face lighting with joy. It had been so long since she had seen her son and his last visit had been to her previous flat. ‘John, how wonderful to see you!’
‘Hello, Mum,’ he said, before leaning forward to kiss her swiftly on the cheek.
Betty stood aside to let him in, her voice high with excitement. ‘Look, Anne, it’s John.’
‘Hello, sis,’ he said. ‘Mum told me you were going on holiday. Did you have a good time?’
‘Yes, we had a week in Spain with Dad and Mel.’
Betty was pleased to see John’s lips curling in derision, since she felt the same, but if they started to argue they’d leave and she didn’t want that. ‘It’s marvellous that you’ve both turned up at the same time. Come on, now; don’t stand there like a pair of combatants. Sit down and I’ll get you something to drink.’
Anne flopped onto the sofa, whilst John took a chair, and as she hurried to the kitchenette, Betty could hear Anne talking to her brother.
‘I’m glad you’re here. I’ve got a bit of news and this way I can kill two birds with one stone.’
Wondering what this news could be, Betty hurriedly opened her small fridge, only to shake her head with annoyance. With so many other things on her mind she had forgotten to get any Cokes, and now could only offer Anne orange juice. She poured two glasses, saying as she took them into the living room, ‘Sorry, this is the only cold drink I’ve got. If you’d prefer, I could make a pot of tea.’
‘Orange juice is fine, Mum,’ John said as he reached out to take a glass.
‘It’s too hot for tea and this will do,’ Anne agreed.
‘So, Anne, what’s this news?’ asked John.
Anne’s eyes danced as she looked at her brother. ‘When Mel wasn’t well in Spain, we put it down to the food, but since returning she’s been to see the doctor. You’re not going to believe this. Dad said he didn’t want any more children, but she’s pregnant. Mel’s pregnant.’
Betty felt herself going rigid with shock. ‘Pr…pregnant?’
‘Yes,’ Anne said dismissively, as though unaware how her mother was feeling as she turned to her brother again, ‘and John, that means we’re going to have a new baby brother or sister.’
‘Half–brother or–sister,’ he retorted, ‘and if you ask me, it’s a bit sick. Bloody hell, Dad’s old enough to be the child’s grandfather.’
Betty’s head was reeling. Somehow, deep down, she had always hoped that the marriage would end–that, as Richard aged, Mel would want a younger man. He was already twenty–five years her senior, and it sickened Betty that at fifty–eight years old he was about to start another family. ‘How…how does your father feel about it?’
‘He’s really happy, cock–a–hoop and strutting about with his chest puffed out with pride.’
‘I thought you said he didn’t want any more children.’
‘Yes, but Mel had other ideas. She’s thirty–three now and I think felt the time was right if she was going to have children. She was feeling really broody so, without telling Dad, she stopped taking the pill.’
‘Wasn’t he angry?’
‘No, I told you, he’s full of it, and it seems to have knocked years off him. You should see him fussing over Melissa, even getting a cleaner to come in once a week.’
Betty’s head was low. A cleaner–Melissa had a cleaner. Oh, not for her slaving to keep the house and garden up to scratch. Then, feeling a hand on her shoulder, she looked up to see John leaning over her, eyes full of concern.
‘Are you all right, Mum?’
‘Ye-yes, but I must admit it’s come as a bit of a shock. Oh, it’s awful,’ she then blurted out, ‘somehow I didn’t expect the marriage to last, but…but now…’
‘Mum, don’t tell me that you still hold a torch for Dad?’
Betty stared up at her son, fighting to hide her true feelings. She would never admit it to him, or anyone, but yes, she still held a torch for Richard. Despite what he had done, she still loved him, and felt she always would. ‘Of course I don’t,’ she lied.
John’s eyes narrowed in doubt, but Betty made a supreme effort to regain composure and change the subject. ‘Come on, we’ve heard Anne’s news, now what about you? It’s been ages since I’ve seen you, so tell me, what’ve you been up to?’
‘I’m sorry I haven’t been round, but I ring you every week. It’s work, Mum, I’ve been snowed under.’
‘John, how’s your love life?’ Anne asked.
‘I’ve got a new girlfriend and this one might be serious.’
‘Really…’ Anne drawled.
‘Now then, there’s no need for sarcasm,’ he protested. ‘Surely a man has a right to sow his oats before settling down.’
Doing her best to keep her mind away from Richard, Betty said, ‘Tell me about this girl.’
‘She’s a cracker, Mum. Her name is Ulrika and she’s from Sweden.’
‘Goodness, how did you meet her?’
‘My boss invited me round to dinner. She’s their au pair.’
‘How long have you been seeing her?’ asked Anne.
‘What’s this, twenty questions? Still, if you must know, I’ve been seeing her for two months.’
Anne laughed. ‘Two months–and you call it serious?’
‘It is for me.’
John was so like his father in looks that Betty gulped. They were both tall, both dark and handsome. Their characters were similar, too, both of them charmers. ‘You may be serious about this girl, but don’t rush things. Make sure that she really is the one before you settle down.’
‘Don’t worry about me, I know what I’m doing,’ he said, but then with a glance at his watch added, ‘Sorry, but I’ve got to go.’
‘John, you’ve only just got here.’
‘I’m off too, Mum,’ Anne said.
‘I hardly see the pair of you,’ Betty protested, ‘yet when you do stir yourselves to visit me, you only stay for five minutes.’
‘Don’t exaggerate, we’ve been here for longer than that,’ Anne protested.
Betty knew it was useless to argue. Like his sister, John still lived in Farnham, his job hectic and, with a wide circle of friends, his social life was full. With a sad sigh, she kissed them both on the cheek before saying goodbye. ‘John, don’t leave it so long next time. I really would like to see more of you. If you really are serious about this girl, perhaps you could bring her with you next time?’
‘Yes, all right, Mum,’ he called before he hurried downstairs, Anne close behind.
‘Bye, Mum,’ she too called.
Sadly Betty closed the door and then hurried to the window to watch them climb into their cars, both waving to each other before driving off. Anne might call again in a few weeks, but despite John’s assurance, she doubted her son would do the same. She knew they had their own lives, but the room now felt empty without them.
She
felt empty, unlike Mel who was now having Richard’s baby.
Betty’s lower lip trembled. Yes, she still loved Richard, but he’d made a fool of her. She was miserable, whereas he was happy, and instead of the news helping her to move forward she felt a surge of bitterness–one that made her wish she could wipe the smile off his face.
At one o’clock, Val went upstairs to see Betty, but her smile dropped when she saw her friend’s face. ‘You look like you’ve been crying. What’s the matter?’
‘My son and daughter have been to see me, and
…and…’
‘Oh dear, did they bring bad news?’
‘Not according to my daughter, but it’s knocked me for six. They’re going to have a baby.’
‘You’re upset because your daughter’s pregnant?’ ‘No, not my daughter. It’s Mel, my ex-husband’s wife. She’s the one who’s having a baby.’
Val didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t unusual for a second marriage to result in more children, but she didn’t feel it would help to point this out to Betty. It was obvious that the ex–husband had moved forward, yet for Betty the wounds were still painful. ‘Come and sit down,’ she urged, ‘and I’ll make us both a cup of tea.’
‘Thanks, Val.’
‘Here, drink up,’ Val said when she returned to see that Betty was still distressed, her hands wringing in her lap.
Betty took a sip of tea, but when she then spoke, her voice rang with bitterness. ‘It just isn’t fair. Richard is over the moon and, from what my daughter said, he’s fussing over Mel like she’s a china doll, even getting her a cleaner. He can afford it now, of course, whereas when I was married to him I had to work like a slave without an ounce of help.’
Val knew this was the ideal opportunity to probe, so said gently, ‘How come he’s comfortably off whilst you have to struggle?’
‘I…I can’t tell you. You’ll think I’m mad.’
‘I doubt it. Working for a solicitor I’ve seen and heard some terrible things and you’d be surprised how many women come out of a divorce with far less than they’re entitled to.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really.’
‘God, I thought it was only me. When I was married to Richard, he handled all our finances and I thought myself lucky that I had a husband who took care of everything whilst I was worry–free. I was living in my perfect little world, with my perfect marriage but, as I told you before, all that fell apart when Richard told me that there was someone else.’
‘Yes, and it must have been a terrible shock.’
‘It was, and when Richard told me about Mel, I didn’t know what to do. I loved him so much and hoped it was just a passing fancy. I was wrong though, because shortly after he asked for a divorce. I couldn’t believe it, wouldn’t believe it. I begged, cried, pleaded with him not to leave me, but he was implacable. For nearly a year, I wouldn’t accept it, refused to talk about it, but then, just when I thought that things couldn’t get any worse, he…he moved his girlfriend in.’
‘What! Into your home?’
‘Yes, and Mel was so brazen, cuddling up to Richard in front of me.’
Val found it incredible, her voice high as she said, ‘My God, what sort of woman would do that?’
Betty lowered her head. ‘I don’t know, but worse, I–I heard them having sex every night. In the mornings, Mel couldn’t look me in the eye, but Richard didn’t care. He was so cruel, fawning over Mel, showing me how triumphant he was about their sex life. It became unbearable to see them together, to hear them, and I felt an intruder in my own home.’
Val was secretly pleased that Betty now felt confident enough to talk to her about such a sensitive subject. ‘What did you do?’
‘In the end I couldn’t stand it any more, and when Richard offered to find me somewhere else to live, I moved out.’
‘I can understand how you felt, but maybe that wasn’t the best thing to do. By making your life so unbearable that you moved out, Richard retained your home.’
‘I know that now, but at the time I was at the end of my tether, my nerves all over the place. Richard rented me a flat in the next town, arranged a small allowance and advised me to see a solicitor to file for a divorce.’
‘The bastard! Oh, pardon my language, Betty, but I can hardly believe what I’m hearing. You poor thing. What did you do?’
‘I was in a terrible state, so at first I did nothing, but then Richard took the initiative and filed for divorce, using the grounds that I had deserted him.’
‘But you didn’t desert him. He more or less forced you out.’
‘I know, but with no other choice I had to find my own solicitor.’
‘Well, I hope he took Richard to the cleaners.’
‘No, I’m afraid not. Our house was mortgaged to the hilt, along with the business, and on paper Richard had little to show in assets. I felt sure that the business was doing well, that Richard had money, and my solicitor thought he might have hidden it in offshore accounts. The trouble was it would have taken years to unravel and I couldn’t afford to retain a solicitor for that long. The children were grown up and had left home, so in the end all I got was a settlement.’
‘It sounds like your husband was very clever.’
‘Yes, but you probably think I’m a fool for letting it happen.’
‘Of course I don’t. You couldn’t prove that your husband had money and if you ask me you were treated badly, but how did you end up in London?’
‘After the break–up and then the divorce, I felt lost. My life had been centred round my home, my husband and children, but now I had no purpose. I couldn’t bear to think about Richard and Mel, about all I’d lost, and sank into depression.’
‘How awful for you.’
‘Yes, it was, but my son, John, was supportive, cutting his father from his life, and, when he wanted to buy his own house, I knew he wouldn’t go to Richard for help. I didn’t want him taking on a huge mortgage, so stepped in to give him a large deposit. John didn’t want to take it, but I insisted, and though it bit into what money I had, I didn’t care. In fact, I didn’t care about anything any more and just lived off my settlement for about two years. When I realised that the money was almost gone, I knew there was no choice. I’d have to pull myself together, get a job. It was then that I moved to London and, well, you know the rest.’
‘Oh, Betty,’ Val murmured.
‘What’s worse is that Richard is now living the life of Riley and Mel wants for nothing. Unlike me, she has every luxury, whereas I’m alone now and have to struggle to pay the rent every week.’
Val knew she still had to be careful, but took the opportunity to hint at revenge. ‘It’s so unfair and I wish there was some way to make him pay for what he did to you.’