The Perfect Wife

by Kimberley Louise

  She’d wait in reception until his meeting was finished. She needed to speak to him. Derek's office was in the centre of town, so Jean walked and thought about Emma, and that man. Who was he? He was certainly more than a friend. They were together, as in lovers. Jean’s body flushed from hot too cold in violent bursts as she paced through Leeds City Centre. She didn’t notice anyone or anything. My son is barely cold in his grave,” Jean thought. She can’t get away with this behaviour. It’s not right.

  This was all she needed. Why couldn’t anyone see what Emma was really like? Was it normal for someone to have a new relationship weeks after her husband was killed?

  Reaching Derek’s office, Jean paused at the door. When she got inside, the receptionist was the on the phone.

  "Are you wanting Derek?" she asked.

  "Yes, please."

  "Take a seat. He won't be a moment."

  Jean sat down in the waiting area until Derek arrived. His smile was tense.

  "Jean, are you okay?" he asked.

  Jean led him outside. "You won't believe what I just saw."

  "What?"

  "I went to see Emma to apologise. Needless to say, she was rather abrupt with me. Anyway, I saw her with Charlie."

  "So?"

  "Derek we need to do something."

  ”Charlie is living in my son’s house.”

  "Have you been spying on her?”

  “I’m protecting my son’s legacy.”

  "Jean, I'm at work."

  "You always are."

  "I can't talk about this now."

  "It's important."

  "We'll talk about it at home."

  Jean clung to Derek’s arm. "She's not what she seems. It's not normal. Maybe she and Charlie were carrying on while Eddie was alive. What if he’d found out about it."

  "Jean, please stop this."

  The receptionist opened the office door. "Derek, there's a client on the phone. He says it's urgent."

  "I've got to go, Jean."

  “Derek don’t go—”

  “We’ll talk at home.”

  Derek kissed her on the cheek went back inside. Jean started to walk, wondering and thinking the worse. The sight of Emma and Charlie creating an intense, fervent pain in her chest. Something about Emma made Jean’s whole body blood run cold.

  Chapter 20

  Later that evening in their bedroom, Jean combed her hair at the dressing table, while Derek lay on the bed reading a book. Then the doorbell rang.

  “Who’s that?”

  Derek got off the bed and went to the window.

  “It’s Emma. I’ll go and let her in.”

  Derek left the bedroom, and Jean heard him going down the staircase. Jean got up and went to the window. Emma was standing at the doorstep. She then smiled as Derek opened the door and stepped inside. Jean went into the wardrobe and slipped a cardigan on. She then looked at herself in the mirror. Emma was laughing with Derek as Jean stepped down the staircase.

  When Emma noticed Jean, she stopped laughing.

  “Hello Jean?” she said.

  “Emma,” Jean said.

  “How are you both?” Emma said.

  “We’re bearing up,” Derek said.

  “That’s the spirit,” Emma replied. “I’m glad you’re both doing okay. I’ve been thinking about you both a lot.”

  “Where are the children?” Jean asked.

  “With a friend,” Emma replied.

  “What friend?” Jean asked.

  “How about we let Emma get through the door before we give her the third degree?” Derek said.

  “They’re in safe hands,” Emma said.

  Derek showed Emma into the living room. She didn’t sit down.

  “I would have preferred if you’d brought them,” Jean said. “We haven’t seen them in days.”

  “I said I wanted to give you some time,” Emma said.

  “Time for what?”

  “I clearly thought you needed a break. It was obvious to me and everyone else that Eddie’s death has taken its toll on you.”

  “Well, I’m sorry if my son dying upsets me.”

  “Jean?” Derek said.

  “I haven’t come here for a row with you Jean,” Emma said. “How about I bring the kids around at the weekend. They can stay over if you like.”

  “That would be great,” Derek said.

  “Why can’t they stay longer?” Jean asked.

  “Because it upsets their routine,” Emma said.

  “And moving a strange man into the house after they’ve lost their father doesn’t upset their routine?” Jean asked.

  “But I don’t think this is fair. I have only had your best interest at heart. And you think it’s perfectly acceptable to spy on me.”

  Jean looked at Derek. “What do you mean?”

  “She’s been watching me,” Emma said.

  “Where?” Derek asked.

  “I’ve seen her. She parks outside of my house and watches me.”

  “I was not watching you,” Jean said. “You don’t have to make it sound so—”

  “Strange,” Emma said.

  “Is this true, Jean?” Derek asked.

  “I just wanted to see the boys, that’s all. You’re the one who has been playing games. You’re the one who has been trying to make me look bad. You’re the one who has been trying to turn my family against me. This is all, you Emma. Not me.” “Listen, Jean. I know you’re upset about Eddie, but it doesn’t give you the right to keep persecuting me like this.”

  “Persecuting you?”

  “What would you call spying on me? I’ve even seen you writing things down in that notebook of yours. Is that the behaviour of a rational grandmother? I could report you to the police for harassment.”

  “How dare you?” Jean said. “Maybe I should report you. You neglect those boys. You and your wild parties and your casual boyfriends.”

  “Jean, I told you to stay away until Emma contacted us,” Derek said.

  “She has no right to stop us seeing the children,” Jean said.

  “I didn’t stop you seeing them, Jean,” Emma said. “I was just worried that all of this has been too much for you. I was doing this for you.”

  “Don’t make me laugh,” Jean spat. “I know you were you seeing Charlie with when Eddie was alive. How many times did you cheat on him? Is that why he wanted to move away?”

  Emma shook her head and stormed into the hall.

  “I don’t have to listen to this,” she said.

  “Emma wait?” Derek asked.

  Emma opened the door and turned back to Jean. “I came here today because I wanted you to see the kids. They’ve been asking for you. But all you’ve done is insult me.”

  “She didn’t mean to Emma,” Derek said. “It’s just that she’s worried about kids. We both are.”

  “I can speak for myself, Derek,” Jean said. “I have a right to look after my son’s interest.”

  “Yes, and I was his wife. And he left his interests with me. So I’d like it if you’d stop stalking me and thinking you have the right to run my life.”

  “What about the kids?” Jean asked.

  “I’ll be in touch.”

  Emma left, and Jean went into the kitchen. Derek followed behind her.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Derek said.

  “Why do you always defend her?” Jean asked her.

  “I am trying to keep the peace. Don’t you think we’ve been through enough?”

  “I know what we’ve been through,” Jean said. “Do you think losing your only son is easy? Knowing you’ll never see him again. Touch him, hold him. Tell him how much you love him. I miss him so much that I can’t breathe.”

  “That’s not Emma’s fault, love.”

  “Doesn’t anything about her behaviour strike you as odd?”

  “She’s just lost her husband,” Derek said.

  “And now she’s practically living with another man, days after she buried h
im. She uses the grandchildren against us as a weapon.”

  Derek flew his hands up in the air. “Jean, you don’t like her. You never have. Nobody was ever good enough for your precious son.”

  “That’s not true, and you know it. I loved Rebecca. Emma couldn’t hold a candle to her.”

  “Rebecca is dead. And so is Eddie.”

  “Emma is destroying this family, Derek.” “Are you sure about that? Because from where I’m standing, you’re the one who is tearing us apart.”

  The following morning, Jean went to Beatrice’s office in the town centre. Beatrice worked alongside two other solicitors, and the company was called Summerfield and Bentley solicitors. It’s soft and warm contemporary decor was Beatrice idea, along with the pretty twenty-something receptionist who constantly clicked her pen and shuttled paper from the printer.

  She made Jean the worst cup of coffee Jean had ever tasted, but at that moment, acidic tasting coffee was the least of Jean’s troubles.

  While she sat in the waiting area, Beatrice stepped out of her office with a middle aged man and shook his hand.

  “Right, Mr Shipley, I’ll be in touch.” She then noticed Jean sitting on one of the chairs. “Jean?”

  Jean hastened towards her. “Sorry to bother you at work.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “No.”

  “Come inside?”

  Jean followed Beatrice into her office and took a seat at the desk, but Jean told her sit on the couch in the corner. Beatrice poured some coffee.

  “I need to you do something about Emma,” Jean said.

  Beatrice handed Jean her coffee and sat beside her.

  “Has something happened?”

  “She’s threatened to stop me seeing the boys.”

  “She’s actually threatened you.”

  Jean started fanning herself with one of Beatrice’s leaflets. “Yes.”

  “Are you hot? Would you like me to open the window?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Jean snapped. “About Emma. She came around to the house last night and told Derek that she didn’t think I was fit to be around the boys.”

  Beatrice bit the inside of her lip. “Why would she say that?”

  Jean paused. “Well she said I’ve been stalking her.”

  “Stalking her?”

  “She’s twisting things. I wasn’t stalking her. I was going to knock the door, but she doesn’t make feel welcome.”

  “Jean…stop. Calm down.”

  As Jean thought about the worst case scenarios, her chest tightened, and she felt dizzy. “Sorry. I’m just scared that she’ll take them away from me. They’re all I’ve got left.”

  The thought of losing her grandchildren was unbearable. Especially losing to someone like Emma. They already had a good mother in Rebecca. And Jean could raise them in the way she knew Rebecca would approve of.

  “Were you watching the house?” Beatrice asked.

  Jean could hear the accusation lurking in her friend’s voice. “Only for a moment. I was sitting outside in my car.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I wanted to see that the boys were okay.”

  Beatrice deliberately lowered her head to study Jean. “But you can see how it looks.”

  “I didn’t mean to alarm Emma.”

  “But you have, and if this goes to court, then that’s what she’ll say. That you’ve been pestering her. Standing guard outside someone’s house is hardly rational behaviour is it?”

  “Are you going to help me?”

  Beatrice’s body twitched, and she faced Jean with wide-open eyes. “I don’t know what you want me to do.”

  Jean grabbed her handbag. “Thanks for nothing.”

  “Jean. Wait.”

  Jean flitted towards and opened the office door. “I thought you were my friend.”

  “I am.”

  “Friends support each other.”

  “I’ve always supported you. But I think you’re still grieving, and it’s affecting your judgement.”

  This wasn’t about grief, Jean was sure of that. She wished everybody would stop assuming it was. When Jean left the office, she retreated to the upmarket coffee shop at the end of the street. It was a little pricey for Jean’s tastes, but she needed a cup of tea to relax her mind. As she was about to push open the door, she saw Derek and a young dark-skinned girl sitting at one of the tables. The girl looked in her twenties and had a large afro-type hairstyle and large gold earrings dangling from her ears. She was laughing at something Derek was whispering to her. Jean dashed towards the table.

  “What do you think you’re doing Derek?”

  Derek and the girl both looked embarrassed as they gazed at her.

  “Jean, what are you doing here?” Derek asked.

  “I was asking you the same thing. Who’s this?”

  Derek jerked back and his neck turned red. “This is Charlene. She’s a client.”

  “I see. Treat all of your clients to expensive lunches do you?”

  Jean glanced at Charlene. “You don’t think that we’re—”

  “What am I supposed to think? Here’s me worried sick about our grandchildren and here you are taking a young woman out to lunch.”

  Charlene stood up. “I think I’d better leave you to it.”

  “No, wait,” Derek pleaded.

  But Charlene grabbed her handbag and left. Derek looked at Jean.

  “Now look what you’ve done,” he said.

  “Me.”

  Derek got up and left Jean standing in the restaurant. She breathed deeply, as a strong heat pulsated through her body, making her feel nauseous.

  Later that evening, Jean and Derek was sitting in the living room. Neither of them were saying anything.

  “Was she really a client?” Jean asked after a long silence.

  “Yes.”

  “You’ve never mentioned that you were taking a client out for lunch. What was I supposed to think?”

  “You’re supposed to trust me.”

  Jean turned her gaze towards the window. “And you’re supposed to tell me the truth.”

  “I was taking a client out to lunch. I’m a businessman. It’s not that unusual. Do you honestly think I’ve got the time to have an affair? With everything that’s going on.”

  Jean glanced at him. “How do you mean?”

  “I mean that we’re in trouble, Jean. Big trouble.”

  Derek got up off the couch and went into the kitchen. Jean followed him.

  “Financial trouble?” she asked.

  Derek was pouring himself a glass of water. He took a gulp before he answered.

  “Yes.”

  “How much trouble?”

  “We barely keeping our head above water. The recruitment agency is running at a loss. We’re losing money like it’s going out of fashion.”

  Jean’s breath hitched in her throat. “I knew the funeral had stretched us financially, but I thought we at least stable.”

  “We’re not stable, Jean. We’re far from stable.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Derek spread fingers out in a fan across his breastbone. “That’s why I was taking Charlene out to lunch. She was going to put some business my way. It would have been an important contract that could save our business. And you’ve gone and ruined it.”

  “Derek, that’s not fair.”

  “Do you hard I have to work to keep that place going?”

  “I said I’m sorry for accusing you. But what was I supposed to think?”

  “You’re supposed to think that not everyone out to get you, Jean.”

  “I had no idea.”

  “No, because you’ve been so wrapped up in your obsession with Emma, that you’ve no time for anything else.”

  “If she didn’t make us put on that circus of a funeral, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

  Derek sighed as he walked past her.

  “You won’t listen will you?”

  “No, y
ou won’t listen. I’m tired of this Jean. I can’t go on like this. I feel like I’m drowning.”

  Cheeks flaming, Jean took a startled step back. “How do you think I feel? I’ve been trying to tell you for weeks that Emma is destroying this family. And you won’t listen.”

  “You better listen to me. If you don’t stop this, you’re the one who is going to destroy our marriage. Not Emma. Because I’ll walk out that door and I’ll never come back.”

  Derek stormed up the stairs and slammed the bedroom door. Jean wept and hugged herself as she leaned against the wall.

  Chapter 21

  The following Monday morning, Jean was watching Derek making breakfast in the kitchen. “I called the medical centre this morning,” Derek said. “I told them you’d caught a bug. Alison said she understood.”

  “Why?” Jean asked.

  “You’re not feeling yourself.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Well, that’s not true, love. Is it?”

  Derek sat beside her. Jean got up. “I’m going to work,” she said.

  “But I’ve called them.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t have,” Jean said. “I can make my own decisions.”

  Jean left the kitchen and went upstairs to her bedroom. She didn’t want to go to work. But, anywhere was better than inside that house.

  When Jean got to work, Alison suggested she update patient records and not manage the reception desk.

  “Hello, Jean,” Francis said.

  “Morning, Francis.”

  “What a morning, I’ve had, shuffling these files around. They don’t pay me enough for this,” said Francis.

  “We’re moving over to digital files now, so we shouldn’t have this problem for long,” Jean noted.

  “Thank the Lord for that,” breathed Francis “How are you settling in?”

  “Okay. Alison wants me to update patient records today.”

  “Lucky you! I’ve got a bunch of them right here. Don’t say I never give you anything.”

  “Thanks,” Jean said.

  “It’s quiet today. Well, for a Monday morning,” Francis noted

  “It’s a good job. We’ve only three doctors on today,” Jean commented.