"Whatever for?" Grace snapped, feeling for the chair and slumping into its welcoming arms.
"I feel as though I'm getting in the way. You've not been yourself lately."
"That's got nothing to do with you being here." Grace felt as though her head might spin off. She knew she'd been horrible to Geri, but she needed her daughter’s support right now. The last thing she wanted was for her to move out.
"I know, Mum. But if Carl and I get along alright, we've decided to find a place together. I can't stay here forever. I need to get my life into some sort of order. Especially now, if there's a baby on the way."
"You can't move in with him—you've only known him five minutes!" Grace was horrified. What would people think?
"It's nothing like that, Mum. We're just friends."
"I've heard that before," she snapped.
Geri raised her eyes to the ceiling but didn't retaliate.
"I don't want you to move out. I've got no problems with you being here. Why won't you listen to me?" Grace pleaded.
"It's for the best, Mum." Geri got up from the sofa. "I'm going into Penrith to look for a job. I'll see you later."
Grace was so worried. How could Geri move in with Carl when she was expecting Simon's baby? This just wasn't right. She felt angry with herself for pushing them together in the first place. She felt there was something not quite right about Carl, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was.
Geraldine kissed her on the cheek. "Don't worry, Mum. It'll be fine you'll see."
She'd been a good daughter. In fact, Grace had been very lucky compared to some of her friends. There had been no problems with Geri growing up. She'd met Simon at a very young age, and they'd been inseparable ever since. So what had gone on recently, Grace just couldn't fathom.
Both she and Max had longed for them to start a family, but not in this way, not apart. Children needed both parents, in her opinion, for them to grow into nice, normal, well-rounded adults. Maybe this was an old fashioned way of looking at things, but there was nothing wrong with that.
Max was a fantastic husband. They'd been together for so long she couldn't remember life before him. They had a lovely relationship now and they adored each other, but it hadn't always been easy. Marriage is full of ups and downs. It's all par for the course, but you don't just up and leave. For better or for worse, that's what you promise. But Grace knew even the most solid relationships could be rocked at times.
She thought back to when Geri was three-years-old. She was the love of her life, and she hadn’t realised how much she could care for another human being.
Max had been working away during the week, driving a wagon from Manchester to London, and only came home on weekends. They hadn't been getting on when he was home. She'd known it was her fault. Since giving birth, she had lost her libido and dreaded Max even touching her. She loved him but just didn't fancy him.
One Friday night, she made sure she was already tucked up in bed and snoring by the time Max arrived home.
When she heard him come into the room, she could tell he was disappointed by the way he was breathing and stomping around. He slid into bed and snuggled up to her. She felt her whole body stiffen and knew he'd felt it too.
He sighed, let go and turned his back.
She felt terrible but grateful at the same time. This went on for quite a while until Max just didn't bother to come home on the occasional weekend. He said he had overtime and they needed the money, not that they did. But Grace went along with the pretence anyway.
She enjoyed her own space, and it saved her having to make excuses or, on the very odd occasion, suffer him heaving and panting away on top of her.
She hadn't always been like that—in fact, she'd enjoyed a very active sex life. Even right up to giving birth they'd been at it like rabbits. But after, it was like someone had pushed the off switch.
Eventually, Max stopped coming home and, when he did, he never tried to touch her anymore. This suited Grace down to the ground but, at the back of her mind, she was aware that their marriage was in deep trouble.
Still, she did nothing about it.
By the time Geraldine started school, at four-and-a-half, they hardly saw Max at all. His pay still went into the joint account, but she only used what she needed to pay the bills.
One day, Max came home unexpectedly and her heart almost missed a beat. She knew the time had come to face their problems, but she didn't want to hear what he had to say. She was quite happy to leave things as they were, but she knew by his sad face that he had other ideas.
"We need to talk, love."
"Can't it wait? I have to pick Geri up from school shortly and, and ..." And nothing, she had no reasons or excuses for not dealing with this now.
She called Beryl and asked her to pick Geraldine up and take her back to her house to play with Julie.
Grace had made a pot of tea, although she was sure they'd need something stronger. Returning to the lounge with the tea, and a plate of freshly baked scones, she proceeded to fuss around.
"Grace."
"So, how's your week been? I must say it's a nice surprise to have ..."
"GRACE!"
His raised voice stopped her in her tracks. She wiped her hands on the tea towel and sat down opposite him.
"We can't go on like this, love. We need to get things sorted out." He sat beside her, taking her hands into his.
"Like what? What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. You living here, me elsewhere. I've tried to be patient, but it's not working out, love. We need to separate—properly."
"But why? Why can't it stay the way it is? What about Geri? Please don't do this, Max." She started to cry, and he pulled her into his arms.
"I love you, Gracie, but I can't stand this anymore. I need to settle down once and for all. I'm getting no younger, and Geri hardly knows me anyway. I'll take my things today. Don't worry. I still intend to provide for you both, and you can keep the house, but this is the end of the road for me. I'm sorry."
Grace was crying so hard she couldn't speak.
Max stood up, kissed her on her forehead and slowly walked upstairs.
She wanted to follow him, but she was too upset. What would she say to him anyway? What could she say? She knew she was lucky to have got away with things for as long as she had. She didn't blame him.
When he came back into the room, he carried a suitcase and a large hold-all. He bent once again to kiss her on the forehead. All the while, silent tears streamed down her face.
She thought her heart would break when she heard the door close behind him. What had she done?
He was almost at his car when she finally found the strength to follow him. She threw the door open and screamed, "WAIT! Max. Don't go. Please ..."
The next thing she knew, she was on the ground sobbing her heart out. She didn't want to lose him. He was her husband. She didn't blame him for feeling this way, but she could put it right—she knew she could.
Max fell to his knees at her side, pulled her into his arms, and cried into her hair. They stayed like that for a few minutes, hugging and crying. Then they slowly got up and walked inside, not talking—beyond talking almost.
However, when they eventually did start to talk, they continued late into the evening. Grace called Beryl and arranged for her to keep Geri overnight.
She learned that Max had been having a relationship with the landlady from the boarding house. He felt terrible about it, and Grace had been devastated, but he said he thought it was over between them.
He'd decided he couldn't live with things the way they had been for the past few years. He wanted Grace, but only as a husband wants a real wife—as a lover and companion. He didn't think it was possible for them to be that for each other again.
She spent the whole night in his arms, loving him and trying to convince him they were going to be okay. She'd come too close to losing him, and it had taken something as drastic as him leaving her to realise
how much she loved him.
Maybe Simon and Geraldine needed their own wake-up call.
Chapter 21
The next morning Geraldine moved in with Carl. Grace hadn't been too bothered when Geri first mentioned it as she knew it was only for a couple of weeks. But now she knew they intended to make it a permanent arrangement, it upset Grace no end.
She'd tried to talk her out of it again, but Geraldine wouldn't listen, convinced her mother would feel better if the house was back to normal. Grace wanted to shake her and tell her she needed her to stay, but then she'd have to tell her why and that definitely wasn't an option—not yet anyway.
Max came in to the lounge.
"Going to the chemist to get my blood pressure tablets, lass. Do you need anything while I'm out?"
Grace shook her head.
As he left, she watched from the window, and waited until he was out of sight. Then she picked up the phone and dialled a familiar number. It rang four times then an unfamiliar male voice answered it.
"Hello-o," he said brightly.
"I'm sorry. I think I must have dialled the wrong number," she stammered.
"Are you looking for Simon?"
"Y-yes I am, is he there?"
"He certainly is. Who shall I say is calling?"
"It's Grace—Grace Eve."
She heard a muffled discussion before Simon came on the phone.
"Grace?" Simon sounded serious and worried. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, hi, Simon. I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you have a few minutes to chat?"
"Of course I do. What's wrong? Is it Geri?"
"Yes and no really. She'll kill me if she finds out about this, but I need to talk to you in person. Do you think you could meet me somewhere, soon?"
"I'm really busy at work this week, but leave it with me and I'll call you back later."
"No, don't call me. I'll call you tomorrow. And please keep it to yourself, Simon."
He gave her his office number, and she jotted it down in the back of her address book. She knew she was doing the right thing, although she felt guilty for sticking her nose in.
Oh well, too late now.
She rang Simon again the next morning, and he told her he'd been able to re-arrange that afternoon’s appointments. They arranged to meet in a coffee shop in Kendal at 2.30pm. The bus timetable showed there was only one bus before 3pm, so she had to leave at 10.30am to get there on time. That was the only trouble with living in a country village and sharing a car. The bus service was terrible.
***
Grace arrived in Kendal with two hours to spare and wandered around the shops for a while before heading to the coffee shop. She was on her third pot of tea when Simon hurried in.
He looked a bit thinner, and his hair had grown longer than he usually wore it. Other than that, Grace thought he looked fine.
After the initial chit-chat, Grace got down to business.
"What happened between you and our Geri?" she asked.
"Is this why you asked me here, Grace?"
"Partly. There's more, but first I need to know why."
"And what has Geri told you?"
"Nothing! That's why I'm asking you. Is there any chance of you making up?"
"No." He shook his head. "No chance. Sorry, Grace. It's gone too far for that."
"But why not? You two have been best friends and inseparable since you were nippers. Please tell me, Simon. You can trust me. I just need to know that you've tried your best."
Simon opened his mouth as if to speak and then hesitated. He swallowed, rubbing his hand across his chin. "I've been having an affair," he finally blurted out.
Grace was gobsmacked. She never would have expected it of Simon. "An affair? And are you still?"
"Yes. But it's not what you think, Grace. It’s not as straightforward as that, honestly."
"Oh, I get it. She's pregnant too, isn't she?" Grace realised her mistake as soon as the words left her lips.
"What? You mean ... you said too. Is Geri ... I mean is she ...?
"Pregnant? Yes, and making bad choices, although it all makes sense now. You have another woman, and poor Geri has to go through this alone."
"Man."
"Pardon?"
"I'm seeing a man, Grace." He pushed his chair back and exhaled deeply, rubbing a hand over his face. "There, so now you know."
It took a moment for his words to register, and she was so shocked when they did, she didn't know what to say. This wasn't at all what she'd expected. She’d thought, once he knew about the baby, he would race to Geraldine's side and make everything right between them. But this! This would never be right. Poor Geri, no wonder she didn't want to tell anyone.
He told her everything. How it all came about—that he still loved Geri, but Kevin was his true love—that he hadn't planned it, and how sorry he was for hurting her.
Grace still hadn't said a word.
"I'll drive you home."
Simon stood up and helped her on with her coat.
In the car, she turned to him and placed her hand on his. "Don't go yet, Simon," she said. "I appreciate how hard that must have been for you to tell me, and, considering we're getting things out in the open, I need to tell you something too. But first, you must promise not to breathe a word of it—not to anybody."
She told him everything. He didn't say much, just sat there stroking her hand, listening.
"Right," he said, after she'd finished. "When are you going to the hospital?"
Grace pulled a screwed up letter out of her handbag. It had arrived that morning, but she hadn't read it properly, until now.
"Next Tuesday morning. Ten o'clock."
"Where?"
"Carlisle Hospital."
"Right then." He started up the car.
"What do you mean?" She was puzzled.
"I'll pick you up at nine."
"I can't ask you to do that, Simon."
"You didn't. I offered. You've been like a mother to me for years, Grace. You were there for me when my own parents didn't want to know, so I'm not about to leave you to deal with this alone now, am I?"
She didn't argue. She was just relieved that she'd finally confided in somebody.
He dropped her in Kirkby Mayor. She'd insisted he didn't take her home in case they were seen. That would cause untold amounts of trouble. Simon promised he wouldn't contact Geri until he'd had a chance to think things through.
Grace called into the mini-mart and bought a few bits for dinner. The miserly shopkeeper gave her a funny look, but he didn't say anything. He hadn't pressed charges after the olive fiasco, and she supposed she ought to be grateful, but instead wanted to put two fingers up at him.
Max was peeling potatoes when she got home, and she couldn't believe her eyes.
"Goodness, Maxwell Eve. Did those potatoes start out round? Never in all my life have I seen square spuds before." She laughed.
It felt as though a weight had been taken off her shoulders just by sharing her problem with Simon.
"They make better shaped chips this way," he reasoned
"Since when have you cooked dinner, anyway?"
"I've been thinking about that, and I've decided to start helping out around the house a bit more. Especially now Geri's gone again, I know she's been a big help."
She put her arms around him and kissed him on the lips.
"What's that for?"
"I love you, that's all, and I know I don't deserve you. Now, what are we having with those chips?"
Chapter 22
The following week came around much too fast, but it was fine. She was fine. In fact, she'd been very calm since telling Simon.
She'd told Max she was going into Carlisle to have a manicure and to do some shopping. She'd arranged to meet Simon at the bus stop just outside of the village, and he was already there when she arrived. Having a quick look around to make sure nobody was watching, she jumped in beside him.
"Good morning, Simon." She pe
cked him on the cheek.
"Well, you seem brighter today. I am glad."
"I decided I couldn't mope around forever, and it still may be nothing, eh?"
The traffic was terrible. There were road works on the M6 into Carlisle and it caused a backlog of traffic all the way to the hospital. They were fifteen minutes late as they pulled into the car park, and Grace was getting herself into a right old state.
"Hurry up, Simon."
"Hey, hey, calm down. We won't get there any quicker by being nasty to each other," he replied.
"Yeah, right. Why don't you just shut up?" The words were out before she realised. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Please ignore anything I say. I can't seem to help it." She touched his arm as they raced along the corridor.
"It's okay, Grace. I have thick skin." He smiled.
As it turned out, everyone else was also running late because of the traffic, and so it wasn't a problem in the end. They still had to sit in the waiting room for almost an hour before her name was called.
They followed the nurse into a room at the end of the corridor. Simon held her hand and her heart raced. The nurse said the doctor would be with them shortly.
Doctor Kate Price introduced herself a few minutes later. She explained that an abnormality had shown up on her blood test. "It may be nothing sinister, but we need to run a series of tests to make sure," she said.
The next few hours were a complete blur. There were eye tests, blood tests, screeds of questions, an MRI and a CAT scan, and once again they were asked to wait.
Simon gave them his mobile number, and they said they'd call when the results were in.
They went to the hospital canteen for a cup of tea. Grace thought that Simon looked more nervous than she felt, and that was saying something.
"I could do with a brandy." She joked.
"Just the one? I could do with a bottle." He laughed.
"Tea then?" she asked.
"Don't mind if I do. I'll get them."
Simon made his way to the counter while she found a table at the back of the room.
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