The Couple in the Photograph

by Valerie Keogh

  The idea had looked great on paper, but there were days when Keri wanted to shut the door and hide away. Hard to do in a goldfish bowl. It meant that she could see immediately that Nathan was on the phone to someone. Instead of interrupting him, she went to speak to their receptionist, Roy, nodding along as he filled her in on the latest in his long line of hobbies.

  ‘Mixology! Sounds good. Maybe we’ll put you in charge of the Xmas party this year. You can mix cocktails for us all.’

  Roy, a slight, dapper man who was never seen, winter or summer, without a colourful waistcoat, stuck a thumb up. ‘You’re on. I might come up with a Metcalfe Special.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to that.’ She turned to look towards Nathan’s office and saw him put his phone down. She gave Roy’s upper arm an affectionate squeeze. ‘Don’t put any more calls through to Nathan, please. I’m dragging him away.’

  She hurried over and opened the door before he had a chance to pick up the phone and make one of his interminable calls. He could blend business and gossip like nobody she’d ever met. ‘You haven’t forgotten we’re going out to dinner, have you?’

  ‘Forgotten our wedding anniversary? Are you mad, woman, how could I? He got to his feet and slipped around the desk to grab her before she could escape. ‘Twenty-five years!’

  ‘Let me go, you idiot. People can see, thanks to those daft walls.’

  ‘People? There’s only Roy. He doesn’t care. Shouldn’t a man hug his wife especially on such a momentous occasion?’

  She pushed Nathan’s hands away. ‘Are you ready to leave?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Right, I’ll get my stuff.’ She punched his arm gently. ‘Don’t sit down again, I know you’d be tempted to make one more call.’ His laugh followed her back to her office.

  It wasn’t a long walk from the office to Walthamstow Central where they’d catch the Victoria line to Highbury and Islington. Since they’d moved to the new offices they’d only done the journey home together a handful of times.

  ‘Remember when we used to walk home together every night?’

  She saw him shoot her a curious look.

  ‘Now the twins had to ask me to make sure we came home together.’

  He sighed. ‘You head off early. I have meetings, clients and suppliers who want to meet for a drink. It’s an important part of the job, you know that. I’ve stopped asking you to come along ‘cos you always say you can’t be bothered.’

  She lifted a hand. ‘Yes, I know. I was just saying…’

  ‘What?’ He turned to look at her, surprised when she stopped, her hand over her mouth. He reached for her in quick concern. ‘Keri, what’s wrong?’

  She kept one hand over her mouth and pointed to something behind him. ‘Look!’

  5

  Keri heard Nathan’s gasp, then his laugh rolling out as she continued to stand, her hand pressing so hard against her mouth it hurt.

  She recognised the photograph, of course, how could she not, but what she couldn’t understand was what it was doing blown up and filling the side of a bus shelter.

  ‘It’s that photograph of us at the train station in Italy,’ Nathan was saying.

  ‘The twins. This is why they wanted us to come home together, so we could see it.’

  ‘We look good.’

  They did. It was a beautiful shot of a couple gazing into one another’s eyes, obviously in love. Blown up as it was, the image was slightly blurred, but it was still recognisable as Keri and Nathan, the blurring making it look as if they hadn’t aged a day since it was taken. She ran a hand over her smooth chignon. Back then, when she was so much younger, she’d worn her hair loose. Now, it was almost always tied back, and the copper colour came courtesy of her excellent hairdresser rather than Mother Nature.

  If they’d simply left it as a visual image it wouldn’t have been too bad, mightn’t have attracted much attention but no, their darling children had gilded the damn lily. Across the top of the black-and-white shot, written in large red print, Keri and Nathan Metcalfe, still as much in love after 25 years.

  ‘Must have cost them a fortune,’ she said. Not the reaction Abbie or Daniel would have wanted, and one that made Nathan raise an eyebrow in surprise.

  ‘It was a lovely thing to do.’ He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

  ‘Lovely.’ Keri tried to smile. Maybe Barry won’t notice, maybe he’ll pass by without seeing it.

  They were almost at the station when her phone buzzed. Nathan was a step ahead, pushing through the mass of commuters heading in the same direction. She took the chance and pulled out her mobile and saw immediately her hope had been in vain. Barry’s message dripped with sarcasm.

  So, you’re still as much in love, are you?

  There was no time to tap out an answer or explanation. She’d ring him when she had a chance. She saw Nathan stop a little ahead of her. He was staring up at a large billboard plastered with another photograph of them. Obviously a recent one, she didn’t remember it being taken. She was looking at him, he at her. They were laughing, looking happy. And, once again, in case it wasn’t clear enough from the photograph that this was a couple in love, it was written in bold writing across the top. Keri and Nathan Metcalfe… still in love after 25 years!

  Barry hadn’t missed the photograph at the bus stop. There was no way he was going to miss this.

  ‘We look fabulous,’ Nathan said, still staring upward.

  ‘Yes, but I hope that’s it.’

  Keri’s voice was sharp and he turned to her with a frown. ‘They must have planned this for a long time, don’t spoil their excitement.’

  She hooked her arm into his and tugged. ‘Come on handsome, let’s go home.’ She squeezed his arm. ‘I’ll say I was thrilled, okay? They meant well.’ After all, the twins don’t know it’s a lie. Neither does Nathan.

  At home, Abbie and Daniel greeted them with glasses of champagne and grins of delight at the success of their plan.

  ‘Did you like it?’ Abbie asked, unable to control her excitement.

  ‘It was an amazing surprise.’ Keri was able to be honest in this at least. ‘It must have cost a fortune.’

  ‘One of my uni friends, her father is in the business, so I got mate’s rates. They’ll be there for a month too.’ Abbie clapped her hands together, her eyes shining. ‘We wanted to do something special for twenty-five years.’

  A month! Bloody marvellous. Keri finished the champagne, wishing she could put a straw in the bottle and drain the lot. ‘Right, I’m going to have a shower and change for dinner.’ She left Nathan talking to Abbie and Daniel about the success of their plan and headed up the stairs.

  In the en suite, she shut and locked the door before sitting on the toilet seat and ringing Barry, the man she’d been having an affair with for the last month.

  6

  Keri had bumped into Barry Morgan as she’d rushed from the office one evening, too busy tapping out a message on her mobile to see the man who’d stepped out of the building next door looking in the opposite direction. Only his quick reaction in grabbing her had prevented her from falling. Cue profuse apologies on both sides, at the end of which he’d introduced himself.

  ‘Barry Morgan, solicitor, I work in there.’ He waved to the building behind.

  ‘Keri Metcalfe, general dogsbody,’ she had replied with a laugh, enjoying the admiring looks the man was giving her. She pointed to the next-door building. ‘I work in there.’

  ‘Metcalfe Conservation.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘More than a dogsbody, I’m guessing.’

  Keri had had a hellish week with one thing after the other causing her headaches. ‘Officially, I’m a partner. Believe me, general dogsbody is often more appropriate and it certainly was today.’

  ‘It sounds like you need a drink.’ He tilted his head to a pub further along the street. ‘I’ve time for one, if you do.’

  Nathan was away in the Glasgow office for a few days. The twins, if they came
home, wouldn’t arrive till late. Keri wasn’t looking forward to watching TV with a Waitrose ready meal and glass of wine. She gave the stranger an assessing look, taking in the expensive suit, the startlingly white shirt and conservative tie. Only slightly taller than she, his build was almost weedy thin and, in complete contrast to the swarthy Nathan, everything about him, skin, hair, and eyes, was pale. He wouldn’t be her type, but it was hard not to be swayed by his obvious admiration.

  ‘Why not,’ she said, throwing caution and everything she’d ever promised herself she’d never do to the wind.

  Over a drink, Barry told her he was divorced. ‘It didn’t work out,’ he said simply. ‘We tried but we weren’t making each other happy anymore. We divorced a year ago. She’s met someone else and is talking about getting married next year.’ He lifted his glass in a toast to the idea. ‘She’s happy. We made the right decision.’

  ‘And now you’re looking for happiness?’

  ‘Not actively. If I find it, great, if I don’t…’ He shrugged. ‘I have a good life, I’m not complaining.’

  The one drink led to another, the conversation free and friendly. When Barry suggested dinner, she didn’t hesitate. ‘That sounds like a good idea. Saves me having to take something from the freezer when I get home.’

  Freezer food. When Sarah retired the year after Daniel and Abbie started university, Keri had made the decision not to employ anyone else. But her plans to take over didn’t get further than the purchase of several expensive cookery books and an internet search for local classes. Ready meals, from Waitrose and a local delicatessen, were her saviour, and once she discovered how good they were, all thoughts of cooking faded.

  But there was something sad and lonely about freezer meals for one.

  She hadn’t meant to sound so pathetic, hadn’t meant to give the impression she was unhappy. Because she wasn’t. There was nothing to be unhappy about. She had a good life, a successful business, a loving husband, two great children, but for the last few months she always seemed to be tired, her mood low. Unsettled. Menopausal. She was forty-seven, it was possible. That thought depressed her even more.

  Metcalfe Conservation was a huge success. But recently she’d wondered at what cost.

  Barry’s attention was flattering. A balm to whatever was causing her ache. When he suggested meeting again, she agreed without thinking of the consequences.

  Nathan was away so often… maybe he’d found solace elsewhere too.

  So it was she justified her infidelity.

  She shuffled her position on the toilet seat as her call was answered. ‘Hi, you saw it then?’

  ‘Half of London saw it, Keri! How could you miss it? And those wonderful words, how you’re so in love after all these years.’

  ‘It was the children, Barry. They thought it would be a nice surprise.’

  ‘Children! They’re twenty-two, seems to me that they’d know the truth.’

  ‘They see what they want to. Nate and I don’t argue very much so they probably assume everything is hunky-dory.’

  ‘You said you loved me.’

  Had she said that? She couldn’t remember. He made her feel good. It was exciting to have someone so attentive. Excitement. Was that all it was really?

  ‘Meet me tonight.’

  What? ‘I can’t, it’s our wedding anniversary, we’re going out for a family dinner.’

  ‘Fine, then meet me afterwards.’

  ‘Afterwards! Are you crazy? It’s our anniversary, our children are here. What excuse could I possibly give?’ She could feel her voice rising and took a deep breath.

  ‘You’ll think of something. Tell them you’d forgotten you arranged to meet a friend or something.’

  On their wedding anniversary? ‘I can’t. Not tonight.’

  ‘You can’t or you don’t want to? I think you’ve been playing me for a fool.’ There was bitterness in his voice when he spoke again. ‘You were never really going to leave him, were you?’

  Leave Nathan? Keri swallowed. ‘I didn’t–’

  ‘Stop lying! So now you’re back-pedalling, are you? You said it last week when you were lying naked in my arms. You said you loved me, that you wanted to be with me.’

  She shut her eyes as the memory washed over her. Barry was a remarkably good lover. She had said she loved him, and wanted to be with him. But she’d meant at that moment… not forever.

  ‘Meet me tonight. Or we’re done.’

  ‘I can’t…’ She lifted her head when she heard the bedroom door open. ‘I have to go, I’ll ring you tomorrow.’

  ‘No, don’t bother. I mean it, we’re done. I don’t want to hear from you again.’

  7

  Keri put on a good show over dinner. It was easy, Abbie and Daniel were fun to be with and did most of the talking.

  They told entertaining stories about their university courses, their professors, other students. Abbie, for a change, was between boyfriends, a situation so unusual as to cause ribbing from her twin.

  ‘Have you dated every guy in your year already?’

  ‘All the good-looking ones.’ She smiled sweetly. ‘I’m going to go for the intelligent ones next, do some hands-on research into looks versus brains.’

  Daniel and Nathan laughed, but Keri looked across the table at her beautiful daughter and realised she was serious. Nathan often commented that their daughter looked exactly like Keri when she was that age. She could see a certain resemblance: the same pale skin, auburn curls, blue eyes, high cheekbones. And like Keri, Abbie was tall and slim. But her daughter’s good looks were enhanced by something Keri hadn’t had at her age – supreme self-confidence in her abilities and her looks.

  Keri lifted her glass and took a sip of the chilled wine. Abbie was twenty-two. The same age as Keri was when she married the only man she’d ever been with… until Barry. Laughter rang out again as Abbie told another of her hilarious dating anecdotes. She’d never been embarrassed about talking about her sex life. Keri, who was still uncomfortable speaking about anything of a sexual nature, and who cringed when TV programmes included graphic scenes, looked on and listened in envy.

  Envy.

  Her fingers tightened on the stem of the wine glass. Was that what this was all about? Dread pressed her into her chair as the idea took root. She envied her daughter. Her freedom. The wonderful wide-open future that lay before her. The way men looked at her, entranced.

  Had Nathan once looked at Keri like that? They’d met when she was sixteen, he a year older. Instant attraction, almost love at first sight. She let her eyes drift over him. He was a handsome man, she loved him, but their relationship was old and worn, comfortable rather than exciting. Was that what she’d been searching for when she’d embarked on that stupid affair… excitement. A chance to turn the clock back. To be twenty-two again and have a man entranced by her.

  How pathetic.

  She didn’t think anyone noticed that she wasn’t her usual bubbly self, that her contribution to the various conversations was reduced to agreeing with what anyone happened to be saying, a smile, a laugh when required. She acted her way through the evening. She deserved a damn Oscar.

  By the time they got home, after more alcohol than she’d drunk in a long time, she was exhausted.

  Too weary for Nathan’s half-hearted amorous approach, she was relieved when he didn’t take umbrage at her brush-off.

  ‘I probably had too much to drink anyway,’ he said and rolled over onto his side.

  Keri lay with a hand resting on her forehead. Her head ached. Champagne or stress, or a combination of both.

  When Nathan started to snore, she nudged him to silence with her foot. But the alcohol had a stronger grip on him and a minute later the stertorous rumbling started again. She threw back the duvet and swung her feet from the bed. One of the spare bedrooms was always made up for the occasional unexpected guest – usually friends of either Abbie or Daniel’s. That night the room was empty. Keri crawled between the cool cotto
n sheets and shut her eyes.

  But still sleep wouldn’t come. She’d brought her mobile with her. There was no message from Barry. She tapped one out for him asking to meet the following day but deleted it without sending.

  Maybe it was time to end it. She didn’t love Barry. He was a nice guy but she’d never had any intention of leaving Nathan. She’d risked her marriage because she wanted a little excitement. What a fool she’d been.

  Perhaps, this realisation was all she needed to acknowledge because a moment later, she was asleep.

  The sound of laughter woke her the next morning. She lay with her eyes shut and listened to it, then the loud hush as one of the twins was trying to silence the other. Vaguely, she wondered where they were off to so early, then she was asleep again.

  When she woke she guessed it was mid-morning and reached for her mobile to confirm she was right, her eyes widening to see it was almost eleven.

  She opened the bedroom door and listened before hurrying across the landing to hers and slipping inside. Nathan was still asleep, flat on his stomach, his face buried in the pillow.

  A wave of love washed over her, followed by one of self-disgust. What an idiot she had been to have risked losing all she had for a cheap thrill.

  Nathan would never know, but she’d make it up to him anyway. She’d be a better wife.

  She sat on the bed beside him and ran a hand over his shoulders.

  ‘Hey,’ he mumbled.

  ‘Hey, yourself. Stay there, I’ll get you a coffee.’

  ‘And a pint of water.’

  ‘Coffee and a pint of water. On its way.’ She brushed her hand over his shoulders again then leaned to place a kiss between his shoulder blades. ‘Back in a minute.’