Mollie McQueen is NOT Getting Divorced

by Lacey London

  ‘Really?’ He replied, a smile springing to his face. ‘Because we both know how much you hate being wrong.’

  ‘There’s a first time for everything.’ Planting a kiss on his lips, Mollie squeezed him tightly. ‘Well done, Max. Now we have two things to celebrate tonight!’

  ‘It’s been so difficult to keep this to myself.’ Max admitted. ‘I wanted to wait until I received the official letter before I told you, but it should be here any day now.’

  ‘Or any moment...’ Mollie added, pointing out of the window as the postman walked up their garden path.

  With bated breath, they held eye contact until the sound of their letterbox banging shut caused them to spring apart.

  ‘What are you waiting for?’ Mollie asked excitedly. ‘Go and see if it’s here!’

  Immediately springing into action, Max ran into the hall and scooped up the pile of letters from the doormat. Carefully flipping through the envelopes, he pulled a letter from the rubber band as he walked back into the living room.

  ‘This is it.’

  ‘Open it!’ Mollie squealed, jumping up and down on the spot.

  Tearing open the envelope, Max unfolded the crisp paper and ran his eyes over the printed text.

  ‘I start Monday.’ He said, laughing as he passed the letter to Mollie. ‘After three years of running to the door every morning in the hope of finding an acceptance letter, it’s finally happened.’

  Reading the words twice over to ensure sure she absorbed every single detail, Mollie shook her head in wonder.

  ‘We should frame this.’ She said decidedly. ‘We should frame it and put it pride of place above the mantelpiece.’

  ‘I’d like that.’ Beaming with pride, Max tossed the rubber ball into the air before catching it effortlessly. ‘I’d also like it if we could do something with this. This ball represents each one of those one thousand and ninety-five days of reading rejection letters.’

  Feeling strangely emotional, Mollie smiled back at him.

  ‘And this rubber band right here...’ He added, pointing to the rubber band that was still wrapped around the mail. ‘This, marks the end of it.’

  Mollie lowered her eyes to the final elastic band and felt a frisson of excitement.

  ‘Do you want to do the honours?’ He asked, holding out the rubber ball.

  ‘I think you should do it.’ She replied. ‘You did the first, so it’s only right you should do the last.’

  Pulling the elastic band from around the pile of envelopes, Max took one last glance at the acceptance letter before slipping the rubber band onto the ball and bouncing it triumphantly. His grey eyes glazed over as he smiled at the acceptance letter, appearing lost in thought.

  ‘What is it?’ Mollie asked, placing a hand on his shoulder and choking back her tears. ‘What are you thinking?’

  ‘It’s nothing…’

  ‘Go on.’ Mollie pressed. ‘Let’s hear it.’

  Preparing herself for an emotional speech on how difficult the road to success had been for Max, Mollie reached for the tissues as he sighed dramatically.

  ‘I’m just… I’m just trying to remember whether or not there’s any tofu left in the freezer…’

  Chapter 35

  The party had been in full swing for over an hour, but despite guests drinking wine and enjoying the buffet, no one had a clue as to why they were there. As far as people were aware, they were attending a last-minute party for the free booze and nothing more. Little did they know this party had a much more important meaning for Max and Mollie McQueen.

  With balloons kissing the ceiling and her parents dancing by the platter of sausage rolls, it was exactly the type of party Mollie had envisaged. Three years ago, when she and Max became man and wife, the same retro buffet was on display, the same cheesy music blasted out of the stereo, and the same group of people clinked glasses of fizz together. Only this time, a whole new bunch of faces were there too.

  Beatrice and her HR girls were busily devouring finger sandwiches, Mrs Heckles from next door was enjoying chatting up Jasper, and Tim… well, Tim was just happy to have been invited. Catching his eye, Mollie raised a hand and smiled politely. Nestled between a couple of Max’s gaming friends, Tim appeared to be having the time of his life. With a bottle of beer in one hand and a chicken wing in the other, he grinned from ear to ear as he discussed gaming stats with the PlayStation nerds.

  Taking a sip from her glass, Mollie shifted her focus to her parents and laughed into her gin. She couldn’t recall a single party where her mum and dad hadn’t done the cha-cha-cha after a few glasses of red, and it appeared this party wasn’t going to be any different.

  ‘Don’t they look cute?’ A voice behind Mollie asked, popping her thought bubble.

  Nodding in agreement, Mollie turned around to face Margot and smiled.

  ‘Give it a few hours and they’ll be doing the rumba.’ Mollie teased, reaching over and wiping a blob of mascara from beneath Margot’s eye. ‘Just give me a sign if you see them heading for the brandy and I’ll put out a public health warning.’

  Margot laughed and smoothed down her black dress.

  ‘I think they’re adorable.’ Margot sighed. ‘If they can still be together after… everything, it just proves that it can be done. Ultimate couple goals.’

  ‘Couple goals.’ Mollie repeated, clinking her glass against Margot’s. ‘Wait a minute. What do you mean by everything?’

  Suddenly looking rather guilty, Margot frowned when she realised her own glass was empty.

  ‘I need a refill.’ She said hurriedly, tipping her glass upside down to demonstrate she was out of gin. ‘I’ll be back in a jiffy.’

  Narrowing her eyes suspiciously as Margot made a swift exit, Mollie turned back to her parents. The conversation she had with them earlier in the week came flooding back to her, causing Mollie to put two and two together. Her father’s words were still echoing in her ears when Margot returned with two fresh glasses.

  ‘I’ve still got one.’ Mollie said, showing Margot her glass was almost full.

  ‘Who said it was for you.’ Margot scoffed boldly. ‘These are both mine.’

  Rolling her eyes, Mollie gave her parents a final glance before taking a deep breath.

  ‘Margot…’ She said cautiously, moving closer to her. ‘Do you know about Mum and Dad?’

  ‘What about them?’ Margot replied, feigning innocence.

  Not being able to bring herself to mention her dad’s infidelities out loud, Mollie rubbed her forehead and decided to drop the subject.

  ‘Never mind…’

  ‘Alright, I knew.’ Margot groaned. ‘I’ve known for a while.’

  ‘I knew it!’ Mollie exclaimed. ‘I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!’

  ‘Oh, calm down!’ Swaying her hips in time to the music, Margot waved at their parents from across the room. ‘I was always going to tell you. I just wanted to wait until the paperwork came through.’

  ‘But you should have… what paperwork?’

  ‘The confirmation from the sale of the house.’ Margot explained, as though the answer was obvious. ‘You know what they’re like. They change their minds like the wind. One minute they’re selling the house, the next they’re going to live on a yacht or do a tour of Ireland in Uncle Albert’s camper van.’

  ‘Margot!’ Mollie cried in frustration. ‘I’m not talking about the damn house. I’m talking about the affair!’

  ‘Oh…’ Margot said slowly. ‘That.’

  ‘Yes, that!’ Mollie hissed. ‘Why have I spent thirty years idolising my parents’ marriage without knowing the truth? Why the big conspiracy?’

  ‘There was no conspiracy, Mollie.’ Margot said, laughing lightly. ‘You were too young to remember, that’s all. There was no need to tell you once it was dead and buried. You’ve always put Mum and Dad’s marriage on a pedestal. I didn’t want to spoil your view of them unnecessarily. You picture them as having a happy, healthy and loving marriage, which i
s exactly what they have now.’

  Trying to process what Margot was saying, Mollie shook her head incredulously.

  ‘But, Dad had an affair? Dad? Really?’

  ‘I know. The quiet ones are always the worst.’

  ‘Dad?’ Mollie repeated. ‘The guy who wears socks and sandals?’

  ‘Some women must like that...’

  ‘The guy who sleeps with Olbas Oil beneath his nostrils to stop his snoring?’

  ‘Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it…’

  ‘The guy who…’

  ‘Mollie.’ Margot interjected. ‘I’m going to save you some time here. Dad had an affair. I know it’s disgusting to think about our parents in that way, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s true. Nor does it change the fact that it saved their marriage. Was he right to do what he did? No. Absolutely not. Does he regret it? Yes. More than anything. The past is the past. We can’t rewrite it, no matter how much we want to.’

  Nodding along, Mollie twirled her wedding ring around her finger. Discovering the truth about her parents’ relationship had hit her hard, but if the past couple of weeks had taught her anything, it was that honesty is always the best policy. The irony is, if she had known about their issues from the start, she probably wouldn’t have had such unrealistic expectations for her own marriage.

  ‘The point is, Mollie, regardless of the ethics behind Dad’s actions, look how happy they are now.’ Margot sighed. ‘Who are we to judge how other people make their marriages work? You should know that, more than anyone…’

  The sound of her parents’ laughter grabbed Mollie’s attention as Margot continued with her speech. Singing along to the music, they pulled an enthusiastic Tim into the mix and twirled him around the mini quiches. As usual, their infectious smiles spread to those around them, causing the whole room to light up. You would never know to look at them, but maybe that’s what made their relationship even more special. Maybe their secret was that they were perfectly imperfect.

  ‘Grandma always said that marriages are filled with magic, secrets, strange behaviour, and if you’re lucky, two people who love each other enough to overlook it all…’

  ‘If only I could find myself a marriage like that.’ A deep voice chuckled.

  Exchanging confused looks, Margot and Mollie slowly turned around.

  ‘Jasper!’ Mollie replied happily, a smile springing to her face. ‘You came! How are you?’

  ‘I’m good.’ He answered. ‘How are… Hi, I don’t believe we’ve met. Jasper McQueen.’

  Holding out his hand, Jasper flashed Margot his Hollywood smile.

  ‘Jasper, this is my sister, Margot.’ Mollie said slowly. ‘You met at our wedding, remember?’

  ‘I was the maid of honour who slipped out of the ceremony to answer a work call?’ Margot offered, not taking her eyes off Jasper’s. ‘The one whose pager bleeped during the speeches?’

  ‘Maybe?’ He replied, still shaking Margot’s hand.

  Mollie wasn’t surprised Jasper couldn’t recall ever meeting Margot. He was high on Bollinger before Mollie had even stepped into her dress, and Margot spent the entire day with her phone glued to her ear waiting to hear if she’d made partner. Being a pair of workaholics, Mollie’s wedding was the only time Margot and Jasper’s paths had crossed. At every other family gathering, either Margot was taking blood pressure readings or Jasper was shouting numbers into a headset.

  ‘Well, let me reintroduce you.’ Mollie said suddenly, trying to fill the silence. ‘Margot, this is Jasper. He works in finance, enjoys trips to Barcelona and art galleries. Jasper, this is Margot. She’s a GP, she enjoys gin far more than she would want her colleagues to believe and is currently sworn off men for life.’

  ‘Oh, come on!’ Jasper laughed, his smile not faltering for a second. ‘We’re not all bad!’

  ‘Mmm…’ Raising her eyebrows, Margot pursed her lips and grinned at Jasper from behind her glass. ‘Commitment-phobe?’

  ‘Not at all.’

  ‘Animal lover?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘Want children?’

  ‘At least two…’

  Looking from Margot to Jasper and back again, Mollie smiled when she realised they still hadn’t broken eye contact.

  ‘I’ll leave you two to get acquainted.’ Mollie said, taking her drink and moving aside as Margot and Jasper edged closer together. ‘I’ll be in the kitchen, if you…’

  Recognising that neither of them was listening to her, Mollie slipped into the crowd and looked around the party. There were many happy faces beaming back at her, but the only one she wanted to see was missing. Clutching her glass to her chest, Mollie moved her eyes from one person to the next until she spotted Max across the living room. Her heart skipped a beat as she raised her glass to him. Copying her actions, Max did the same with his bottle of beer and cocked his head to the side, motioning for Mollie to follow him into the kitchen.

  Greeting her guests as she followed in Max’s footsteps, Mollie quietly closed the kitchen door and placed her gin on the counter.

  ‘Are you ready?’ Max asked, pulling Mollie towards him. ‘I don’t think we can keep them in the dark for much longer.’

  ‘I’m ready, if you are?’ She replied. ‘Besides, your mum is going to spontaneously combust if she doesn’t find out what’s going on soon. From the glares I am getting, she is either going to kiss me or kill me. Only time will tell which.’

  Max smiled and squeezed Mollie tightly.

  ‘She wouldn’t kill you.’ He teased. ‘She loves you too much.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, but she might make her personal trainer do it.’

  Laughing loudly, Mollie reached up and kissed Max on the lips, just as the sound of hushed whispering from the other side of the door interrupted them.

  ‘Come on.’ Max said, taking Mollie’s hand in his. ‘Let’s go and give them something to talk about…’

  Grinning back at him, Mollie quickly finished her drink and allowed Max to lead her to the front of the crowded living room. Slowly but surely, the busy chatter fizzled out, until all that remained was the music in the background. Signalling for Tim to turn it down a notch, Max cleared his throat as every pair of eyes in the room fixated on him and Mollie.

  ‘Firstly, I’d like to thank you all for coming here today at such short notice.’ Max began, strategically standing a couple of feet away from Mollie. ‘Unsurprisingly, it’s not usual for us to throw parties midweek without any explanation as to the occasion.’

  Mollie bit her lip and clasped her hands behind her back, trying her hardest to keep a straight face.

  ‘Most of you will be aware that Mollie and I have been experiencing some problems lately, but, hey, what marriage hasn’t?’

  A light titter echoed around the sea of people as Mollie allowed her shoulders to drop slightly.

  ‘When I said I do, I meant it.’ Max continued. ‘But I also meant it when I declared my love for City as a child before coming to my senses.’

  Another laugh erupted, this time louder than before.

  ‘All good things must come to an end, but that doesn’t mean they must come to an end sadly...’

  A sharp intake of breath from someone in the crowd caused Mollie’s stomach to flip. She almost felt bad for stringing them along, but as she listened to Max speak, she was sure of everything she had questioned for so long. Margot was right. Who cares how people come to the realisation they are meant to be together? Who cares what twists and turns they take along the way to happily ever after?

  When you wear that wedding dress and make the first step down the aisle, you believe you are entering your very own fairy tale, and the truth is, you are. Only these kind of fairy tales aren’t like the ones you read about as a child. Yes, they have a princess, a knight in shining armour and a whole load of villains who are desperate to rain on your parade, but that’s where the similarities end.

  Real-life love stories involve row
s over the thermostat, battles over the television remote and turning a blind eye to wet towels on the bed, but you can have a fairy tale ending. You simply need a dash of patience, a sprinkle of understanding and a heart big enough to not sweat the small stuff. After all, a successful marriage requires you to fall in love over and over again, with that one person who knows how to push your buttons each and every time.

  ‘And on that note…’ Max said seriously, bringing Mollie back to planet Earth by wrapping an arm around her shoulders. ‘The reason we have invited you all here today is that we have an announcement to make.’

  Staring up at Max as he addressed their friends and family, Mollie felt her heart pound harder than it did the day they first met. Maybe it was Evangelina’s magic, maybe it was the hell of sleeping on the dreaded camp bed, or maybe it was the risk of bowing out of life being eaten alive by a pack of cats. Either way, Max and Mollie had rediscovered their spark, and this time, not even an edible toilet paper enterprise could put it out.

  ‘Mollie and I are… not getting divorced.’

  To be continued…

  The next instalment in the Mollie McQueen series shall be available to pre-order soon!

  Follow Lacey London on Twitter

  @thelaceylondon

  Have you read the other books by Lacey London?

  The Anxiety Girl Series

  Anxiety Girl

  Anxiety Girl Falls Again

  Anxiety Girl Breaks Free

  Anxiety Girl

  Sadie Valentine is just like you and I, or so she was…

  Set in the glitzy and glamorous Cheshire village of Alderley Edge, Anxiety Girl is a story surrounding the struggles of a beautiful young lady who thought she had it all.

  Once a normal-ish woman, mental illness wasn’t something that Sadie really thought about, but when the three evils, anxiety, panic and depression creep into her life, Sadie wonders if she will ever see the light again.