The Runaway Woman (41 page)

Martin knew Lucy was right but he could not see a solution. ‘So what are you suggesting, Lucy? Are you asking if you can bring her here … after what we did to you? No, I will not let you do that!’ Deeply agitated, he began walking the floor. ‘I don’t know any other woman who would even suggest that.
Already you’ve taken all of this on the chin, and you’ve never once complained. I know you’ve been hurt by what me and Paula have done, but I’ll be honest with you, Lucy. It’s true I do love her. I think I always have, but I love you as well. To be honest I sometimes think I must be going out of my mind. I don’t know which way to turn. I need to be with her. I’m sorry … I really am.’ His voice broke
with emotion. ‘Tell me, Lucy, what should I do?’

He went to sit in his chair, leaning forward, his head in his hands and sobbing like a child. ‘I’ve never felt so lost in all my life. I honestly never wanted to hurt you, Lucy. I’m so sorry … so very sorry.’

Lucy quietened him. ‘First of all, there is nothing to be gained from looking back at what’s happened. As we’re being honest, I can tell
you there were times when I could have walked out the door and never come back, but that would have solved nothing. So now we need to look forward, to be thankful on three counts. First, Paula’s lawyer has managed to secure a quickie divorce from that madman of a husband. And secondly, he’s been charged and found guilty of GBH, and now he’s rotting in prison, where he belongs!’

When she seemed
to have spoken her piece, Martin asked cautiously, ‘And what’s the third count?’

‘Well, it’s kind of a third and fourth count, I suppose,’ Lucy answered. ‘You and me,’ she looked him in the eye, ‘and you and Paula.’

‘Go on.’

‘Well, when you think about it, the solution is quite clear. I think we both agree that our marriage is well and truly over, which is just as well, because you want to
be with Paula. You said that yourself, just now.’ When he went to speak, Lucy put her hand up to signal that she was not yet finished. ‘I’ve been giving the sorry situation a great deal of thought these past weeks, and I think – hope – that I’ve found the answer.’

‘What d’you mean exactly?’

‘Well, if you remember, Paula told us that her solicitor has got together an agreement that will allow
Paula to buy the house from Ray at the market price. There’s no way she ever wants to get back with Ray.’

‘But how can she buy the house? She has no money to speak of,’ Martin commented. ‘And she’s been told she cannot return to work for weeks … maybe months. So, if she can’t be working, how will she ever be able to pay a mortgage?’

‘Well, she won’t, will she?’

‘Lucy! You’re talking in riddles.’

‘No, I’m not. You see, I realise that Paula will not be able to pay the mortgage. But
you
can!’

‘What? I think you’d best explain yourself.’ He was lost as to where she might be going with this.

‘Like I said, it’s simple when you think about it. Paula needs help, and you want to be with her, so why don’t you just move in with her? Help her to buy the house.’

‘But how can I do that?’ Now, he
was more confused than before. ‘Have you forgotten that I’m still paying the mortgage on this house … and at my last reckoning we’ve got another six years before it’s paid off.’

With a secret little smile on her face, Lucy looked him in the eye. ‘Sell it!’ she told him. ‘Sell it, and you’ll have money enough to start a new life with Paula.’

‘What!’ He could not believe his ears. ‘Lucy! Have
you lost your mind? And what about you? I’m not having you lodging with anyone, not even with our daughter. And don’t forget, you’ve paid every bit as much into this house as I have, and I would never dream of taking away your home. So, you can forget that idea altogether!’

Lucy was insistent. ‘I would not be lodging with our daughter, and I’m well aware that I’ve paid into this house as well,
and yes, I would need to have an amount back if it was sold.’

He was baffled. ‘Let me get this idea of yours straight in my mind.’ He gave it a moment’s thought, and then he reiterated her thinking. ‘OK. So Paula has got rid of her ex, and is shortly coming home. Ray wants the house, but he’s residing in prison at the moment and he’s willing to sell it to her. And you have an idea that I should
sell our house, then move in with Paula and help her to buy the house from her ex. And in order for me to help Paula, you say I should sell our home. But if I do that you say you won’t have to lodge with our daughter. So, have I got it right so far?’

‘Absolutely!’

‘I don’t understand, Lucy.’ He shook his head. ‘Are you going crazy, or am I?’

‘Trust me, Martin. I know what I’m doing.’

At that
moment, there came a knock on the door. ‘I’d best see who that is.’ Lucy hurried to the door, already knowing who was there.

A moment later she returned with her friend, Kathleen, in tow. ‘I think you’ll understand after you’ve heard Kathleen’s news,’ she informed Martin. ‘Don’t say a word until she’s done, OK?’

Thinking ahead, Martin was on his feet. ‘No, Lucy! What do you take me for? I know
I cheated on you, but do you honestly think I would sell the roof from over your head and let you move in with a friend, while I go about saving Paula’s house? No! The answer is no!’

Lucy smiled. ‘Listen to me, Martin,’ she urged. ‘Lately, I’ve come to believe that some things are made to be. Sometimes, good things really can come out of bad,’ she said softly. ‘Look! I really want you to listen
to what Kathleen has to say. Meantime, I’ll go and make us all a cuppa. Is that all right, Martin? Will you listen to her … for my sake?’

‘All right! I’ll listen to Kathleen … so long as you understand that I will never sell this house and see you lodging in someone else’s home.’

Lucy thanked him. ‘I’ll leave you to it then.’ She went quickly out of the room.

‘I have no idea what’s going on
here and, to be honest, I really don’t want to hear what you have to say,’ Martin informed Kathleen. ‘Lucy was wrong to discuss our business with you, but, like I say, I’ve let her down once, and I don’t mean to let her down again. I will never sell this house while Lucy needs a home, and I will never allow her to become a lodger in someone else’s house – not even yours. And that’s an end to it!’

Kathleen handed him an envelope. ‘Please, Martin, before you say any more, just read this. It should explain everything.’

In the kitchen, Lucy realised that Martin must be reading the letter, and she was made increasingly anxious. A moment later, having made the tea, she brought the tray into the sitting room and placed it on the table.

Martin was still perusing the letter.

Lucy remained by
the table, waiting. Hoping he would understand and go along with her plan.

Suddenly, Martin looked up, his gaze falling on Lucy. ‘Well, I never!’ He smiled. ‘You crafty little bugger, and you never said a word.’

‘It was not my place to tell you,’ Lucy replied. ‘It was for Kathleen to explain. And, like you, my mind was on Paula. There was so much going on, I needed to put it on the back burner.’

Martin understood. ‘And now?’

‘Well, if you agree, I’d like to spread my wings at last. That’s why I thought we could sell the house. That way, you could help Paula, and I could have a sum of money from the sale of the house and include myself in Kathleen’s plans. Maybe even work my way up to being a businesswoman. I’m ready, Martin. The children are grown up, and what’s happened to us recently
has taught me that life is very short, and events often creep up on us, and make us realise how very vulnerable we all are. It’s time, Martin. I need to get out there and be a part of it, and, thanks to Kathleen, I now have that chance. So … what do you say? Will you sell the house, help Paula to buy hers, and let me go to find my place, at this new point in my life?’

Martin was silent. The words
he wanted to say were stuck in his throat, though his respect and love for Lucy were never greater than now.

When at last he spoke, there was a tremble in his voice, and tears of gratitude in his eyes. ‘My dear Lucy, I promise I will move heaven and earth to help make you happy.’

Over the next hour, Kathleen and Lucy outlined their plans.

‘With the money my great-aunt has
left me, I intend moving away – to the coast, preferably,’ Kathleen told Martin.

Lucy explained excitedly, ‘Kathleen has asked me to go with her, and be a partner in the business she buys – maybe a little tea-room, or a small boarding house for holidaymakers. So, if you are able to give me a sum of money when the house is sold, that will go towards me buying into Kathleen’s business, whatever
business she might choose.’

Kathleen stopped her right there. ‘Not what business
I
choose!’ she reminded Lucy. ‘When we see the right opportunity, you will have as much say as me in what we go for.’

So, now that the air was cleared, and the tea had gone stone cold, Lucy went away to make another pot of tea.

‘You will look after her, won’t you?’ Martin asked Kathleen.

‘We’ll look after each
other,’ Kathleen replied softly. ‘And, who knows, each of us might just find a new man to light up our lives.’

‘So where exactly are you thinking of going to?’ Martin was curious.

‘I’m not altogether sure yet. I do have a little place in mind, though. It’s a place I believe Lucy will like. Yes, I’m sure that when she sees it, she will be pleasantly surprised.’

A sense of mischief made her look
away and smile.

O
N A WARM
afternoon in July, Lucy and Kathleen switched off their machines at the plastics factory, and the entire eighteen-strong workforce raised their voices and sang a merry song to send their friends on their way.

While their workmates sang, the two friends stood side by side smiling, but feeling a little sad to be leaving.

When the song was done, everyone cheered, and
the boss came forward to address them all. ‘Seeing as these two have given me more grey hairs than anyone, I really should be delighted to see them go.’

There was a roar of approval and a volley of cheeky calls: ‘Fling ’em out!’; ‘Make them work another fortnight with no pay! The buggers have had more holidays than the rest of us put together!’

When the cheering raised the roof, Lucy and Kathleen
had tears in their eyes. When the boss presented them each with a bouquet of flowers, their tears began to fall. ‘We love you all!’ Kathleen told them, and Lucy was too filled with emotion to speak, so she simply put up her hand and waved a thank you.

When the blower screamed out, telling everyone that the day was over, one by one the workers came to say their goodbyes to Kathleen and Lucy, and
when they were all gone, the boss led the two of them to the office, where she gave them their last pay packets, and wished them well.

‘I hope your business venture works out for you both,’ she said, and gave them each a hug. ‘Keep in touch. Don’t forget us.’

Kathleen and Lucy thanked her and bade her goodbye. ‘I don’t know how you ever put up with us … me in particular,’ Lucy told her.

‘I
put up with you because you are two of the best workers I’ve got,’ the boss assured Lucy. ‘And I know what difficulties you have had to deal with.’

A few moments later, the two went away to start their new lives.