Page 55 of Always Beth
‘Tell me about it.’
‘What did she say when you told her the truth?’
‘I didn’t, she didn’t give me a chance, told me togo back to my fucking wife.Then slammed the door in my face.’ I spread my arms wide in defeat. ‘So here I am.’
‘You could so easily fix this,’ she cries, throwing her hands in the air.
‘No. I can’t. She gave me an ultimatum, then and there on the spot, she made me choose between you, and you know that I would—’
‘She was making you choose between what she thought was a mistress and wife, you fool. It’s not the same. You should have told her.’
‘She doesn’t trust me. Why would I want to do that? I’m not chasing her to explain myself or to ask for forgiveness, that’s not me.’
She shakes her head, her anger clearly simmering. ‘You’re an arrogant prick.’
‘And you’re the worst wife ever.’
‘I think I’m going to be sick and not because of the chemo. Husband and wife though? I guess I can see why she jumped to conclusions.’
Exactly. It’s obvious why she jumped to conclusions, she’s been so badly hurt it would be inconceivable that there would be any other explanation other than me being a cheating lowlife like her husband. My head pounds as I climb the stairs. Lauren’s right, I could so easily fix this, but perhaps it’s for the best that I don’t. Who was I kidding that I could commit to someone right now.
Beth
I wake with a sudden jolt. I don’t remember falling asleep. After several bottles of wine, the couch became my bed for the night. I remove my hand from the share-size crisp packet with disgust. Passing out halfway through a bag of salt and vinegar is a new low even for me.
The pounding in my head makes me bolt upright and I can’t work out if it’s the effects of the Pinot or it’s something else.Fuck, it’s the door.Please don’t be him. Peeking around the curtain, my breath catches and I pin myself against the wall, praying she hasn’t already seen me.
Shit.
It’s her. It has to be. Long dark hair, about my age, maybe a bit older. Beautiful. What’s she doing here? She’s more guts than me, that’s for sure.
I creep past the window and attempt to climb the stairs.
‘I know you’re in there. I can wait out here all day if I have to, I haven’t got anything else on.’
‘I…I don’t think we should speak, no good can come of it.’ I inwardly curse to myself, I’ve just used the very same words my husband’s lover said to me.
‘On the contrary, I think it can and I also have a lovesick dachshund out here.’
I peer back into the kitchen and lock eyes with Poppy. ‘You, I’ll do anything for you…’ I point to her furiously, quickly checking myself in the mirror.
As I release the catch on the door, it slowly falls open and Dick rushes past me at a hundred miles an hour. As our eyes meet, there’s an immediate connection that I wasn’t expecting. It’s like I already know her.
‘So may I come in?’ She breaks out into a huge smile. What the hell is going on? She almost appears eager.
‘Yeah, sure.’
She follows me into the kitchen and I immediately flick the kettle on.
‘He doesn’t know I’m here, you know.’
My stomach somersaults as I reflect on our last conversation.
‘I don’t think he’d be very happy if he knew we were talking,’ I whisper.
‘No, probably not, he’s always been the same since we were kids, he’s very private.’
Kids? Jesus, how long have they known each other? I’ve wrecked the marriage of childhood sweethearts.
