Infidelity
– Right, then, Lucy, I’m off! – Paul waved his hand, – I’ll send the money to Mum, don’t worry.
The door closed behind her husband, and Lucy wearily sat on the stool, suddenly bursting into tears.
– Mum, what’s wrong? – Her son walked into the kitchen, – What’s happened?
– Nothing, – Lucy felt ashamed of her weakness, – Nothing, sweetheart, just in a bit of a mood and missing the kids.
It was the school holidays, and the kids, her son William and daughter Emily, were staying with their grandmother.
– No, – declared Tom confidently, – you don’t cry like that just because you’re in a mood; and you talk to the kids on the phone every day. I might not be a kid anymore, Mum, but I understand some things.
Lucy looked at her sixteen-year-old son, taller than her, and unexpectedly said out loud what she had been afraid to admit even to herself:
– I think your dad is going to leave us soon, – and to the unspoken question in her son’s eyes, she explained, – He’s been seeing someone else. For nearly six months…
Tom didn’t know how to react. He had thought someone had upset his mum at work or on the street, or she had fallen out with a friend. But this?! How could Dad?! Anger began to rise in him, and his mother noticed it immediately:
– Tommy, don’t. These things happen with adults, you’ll understand when you’re older. Your dad’s a good man, but you can’t help who you love.
Lucy said these words, not believing them herself. She wanted to scream, stomp her feet, and smash dishes, but instead, she was persuading her eldest son to forgive and understand his father! But Tom clenched his fists:
– Let him go, then; we can manage without him! Why would we want a cheat at home?
– Sweetheart, you say you’re grown-up, but you’re acting like a child. Everyone has the right to make mistakes, don’t they? Your dad will realise it’s just a fling, that the most important thing to him is us, his family…
– Mum, – “grown-up” Tom suddenly cried, – Why did he do this? I don’t think I can respect him as I did before!
– It’ll be fine, sweetheart, – Lucy patted her son’s hand, – Just don’t say anything to the kids.
– You too, – Tom wiped his tears, – Don’t tell them I cried. It might shake their faith in their strong and invincible older brother.
Lucy glanced at the clock:
– Aren’t you going to be late for practice?
Tom jumped up:
– I am! Damn!
Left alone, Lucy pondered. In her conversation with her son, she could speak reasonably, but alone, hurt overwhelmed her, and tears threatened to fall:
– How could he? How could he betray everything we had?
When they met, Paul had been quite carefree, always surrounded by girls of all sorts, calling them his “birds.” When she, Lucy, told her suitor she didn’t intend to become just another “bird,” Paul seriously replied:
– Why “another”? The one and only, for life.
And she believed him, fool that she was. All those 17 years together, she believed, thought herself lucky! And him?! Despite three kids, all they’d been through, all their “joy and sorrow” days, he still betrayed them.
It started six months ago. Or maybe earlier, but she hadn’t noticed? But no, unlikely… Six months ago, they were invited to a wedding, Paul’s favourite nephew was getting married. Lucy couldn’t attend, but she insisted Paul go. He hesitated for show but went; otherwise, his sister would be upset, and relatives would ask questions… Lucy later looked at the wedding photos shared online and saw a girl who kept clinging to Paul! It pricked at her then, and she even made a snide remark about the girl, but Paul absent-mindedly replied:
– Who? Her? Oh, that’s the bridesmaid, I think. I didn’t even notice her. Heaven knows why she’s always near me. Are you jealous? – Paul grinned then, – Jealous! She’s not even my type!
She had believed him then. The girl really wasn’t Paul’s type, she knew that! But a week later, odd phone calls began — silence on the line. Lucy mentioned it to Paul:
– Can you believe it? They call, and just breathe into the phone. Sounds like Tom’s got “birds” now!
After this complaint, the calls stopped, but Lucy didn’t associate it with talking to Paul until much later – when Paul, a fan of jeans and sweaters, started wearing suits and using modern cologne instead of the “Old Spice” his father had used. And then came the frequent late nights at work… When Lucy asked what was going on, Paul, without a hint of doubt, said:
– Lucy, it’s a strategically important project! Don’t know how long it’ll take, but afterward! – Paul dreamily rolled his eyes, – Afterward, we’ll have everything, a holiday anywhere you want, buy you that coat you wanted, and a hoverboard or maybe even a quad bike for Tom. You guys will wait, right?
From then on, not only did Paul come home late, but sometimes he’d disappear over the weekends. Just as they’d plan a family outing, there’d be a work call and – an apologetic look:
– Lucy, they need me at work. Deadlines, you know…
Lucy wanted to find that girl from the wedding photos, pull her hair, scratch her face, but to resist the temptation, she didn’t even try to find her name or whereabouts.
Six months of this life turned Lucy almost into a nervous wreck. In public and with the kids, she tried to hold herself together, but alone, she’d sometimes break down. Today, after speaking with her eldest son, Lucy made a decision:
– I need to talk to him. I can’t let Tom start hating his dad!
Her husband beat her to it. Paul called and invited her to a restaurant:
– Lucy, we need to talk. Preferably without the kids overhearing.
Lucy smirked sadly: he doesn’t want a scene because he knows she wouldn’t cause one in public.
At first, she decided to go in her everyday clothes; why dress up? But then thought she might show up looking like she just came from gardening, to embarrass him. But an hour and a half before leaving, she changed her mind sharply:
– I must be as beautiful as ever! Let him see what he’s losing!
In the taxi, the driver glanced at her through the mirror. As she paid, he suddenly said:
– Such a beauty, yet so sad! Don’t worry, you’ll see, everything will be fine!
The unexpected compliment lifted her mood a bit, and Lucy entered the restaurant with a smile. Paul held a rose, which surprised her: if he was going to say he’s leaving, why the flowers? Or was it a symbol – a flower on the grave of their love? Lucy even chuckled, questioning the odd thoughts that weren’t like her.
They dined, chatting about trivial things. Inside her, a coil wound tighter, ready to spring at any moment. Finally, she couldn’t stand it:
– Paul, you said we needed to talk…
He nodded:
– You’re right. So, Lucy, here’s the thing, – he paused, as if gathering courage, – I’ve been thinking… Would you be against not going on holiday, not buying the coat and quad bike?
The spring was ready to release, but Paul continued:
– You know, we got paid almost twice today, including a bonus. And I thought Tom’s nearly an adult, nearly independent. Let’s buy him a flat with this money? I heard if we invest in a new build, it’ll be ready as a gift for his 18th. What do you think?
– I understand, Paul, – Lucy began, then caught herself, – What? A flat? What flat?!
– Didn’t you hear any of that? Actually, you’ve been really distracted these past few months. What’s up, Lucy?
Later, Paul shouted. Held it in at the restaurant but let his feelings loose once they left:
– Have you lost your mind?! What lover, what affair?! I explained it was an important project, that I’d have to work late! You didn’t complain, I even bragged about having such an understanding wife! And that “understanding” wife conjured up heavens only knows what!
They walked home, Lucy listening to her outraged husband with a blissful smile. All his accusations and reprimands sounded like heavenly music now. Reaching the house, Paul finally calmed down. By the entrance, he stopped and said:
– I told you once, that I’d found my one and only. Did I ever lie to you?!
… Tom’s day didn’t start well; his morning chat with his mum threw him off balance. First, he was late for practice, got a telling-off from the coach, and got knocked about in the session since he just couldn’t fight back. On top of that, he fell out with a friend over nothing, then wandered the city, looking for trouble. He wished someone would pick on him, give him an outlet for his accumulated anger. He couldn’t start a fight himself; his conscience wouldn’t let him. But since he didn’t encounter a single thug, he headed home, and there, at the entrance, he spotted a couple kissing. He recognized his mother’s coat immediately and felt a burning sensation: she accused Dad of infidelity, and there she was! Clenching his fists, he took a step toward them…
– Oh, hey, son, – Paul smiled a bit sheepishly, – We were just…
… Isn’t it great when everything ends well, though?
