Olivia has spent the entire day preparing for New Years Eve: cleaning, cooking, setting the table. This is her first New Years not with her parents, but with the man she loves.
Shes been living with Tony in his flat for three months now. Hes fifteen years older than her, has an ex-wife, pays child support, and is rather fond of a drink now and again… But none of that seems to matter when youre in love. No one could quite understand what drew Olivia to him: hes certainly no lookeractually, you might say hes downright unattractiveand his temperament is dreadful, hes infuriatingly stingy, and hes always skint. If he ever does have some money, its always spent on himself, never anyone else. Yet Olivia has fallen head over heels for this odd duck.
All these months, Olivia has been hoping Tony would notice just how caring and tidy she is, and might even want to marry her. He always said, We should live together first, see what youre like as a homemaker. I dont want a repeat of my ex. What his ex was actually like, Olivia never managed to find outhe never gave a straight answer. So she tried her hardest, showing only her best side: she never complained when he came home drunk, cooked, did the washing, cleaned, bought all the groceries with her own moneyheaven forbid Tony think she was after him for his cash. Even the New Years feast was all on Olivias tab. Shed even bought him a new phone as a present.
While Olivia was getting everything ready, her lovely Tony was busy, tooin his own way, out drinking with his mates. He stumbles in merry as anything and announces that some friends will be joining them for New Years. His friendswhich means people shes never even met. Olivia finished laying the table; theres only an hour left before midnight. Her mood is spoiled, but she bites her tongueshe wont be like his ex.
Half an hour before New Year, a rowdy crowd of men and women bursts through the door, all of them rather tipsy. Tony suddenly perks up, sits everyone down, and the drinking continues in full swing. He doesnt even bother to introduce Olivia to the guests, and no one pays her any mind at allthey just drink, chatter, and laugh among themselves. When Olivia suggests, two minutes before midnight, that it might be time to pour the champagne, they all look at her as if shes a gatecrasher.
And whos this, then? one of the women slurs, glass in hand.
Bed mate, Tony laughs, and his friends crack up with him.
They tear through the food Olivia made and poke fun at her as they eat. As Big Ben chimes in the New Year, they mock her naivety and slap Tony on the back for his clever movefinding himself a free cook and housemaid. And Tony doesnt defend her; he just sits there, laughing along, shovelling in the food she bought and prepared and treating her like a doormat.
Quietly, Olivia slips from the room, packs her things, and heads back to her parents house. Shes never had such a miserable New Year. Her mum just says, I warned you, her dad sighs in relief, and Olivia, after crying until she cant anymore, finally begins to see things clearly.
A week later, when Tonys run out of money, he turns up on Olivias doorstep as if nothings happened.
Why did you leave, then? You upset or something? he says, and on seeing shes not coming back, starts to get cross: Oh, nice! Swanning about at your mum and dads, while theres nothing but a mouldy carrot left in my fridge! Youre starting to act just like my ex!
Olivia is speechless at his cheek. Shed gone over in her mind many times what shed say to him, but now she just stands there lost for words. All she can manage is telling him, in no uncertain terms, to get lost, and then slamming the door in his face.
Thats how, from New Years onwards, Olivias new life begins.
