Julia Smith turned around, staring at the young woman and failing to recognize who she was and where she knew her from.
The woman approached, nearly slipping as the path was icy, and Julia caught her, startled.
“Angela? Angela Brown? Wow, where did you come from?”
“Well, I was just passing by the school and I thought I saw you coming out. It blew my mind… How are you? How’s life treating you? What’re you up to? You left such a businesswoman back then, and we somehow lost touch.”
“What do you mean? I tried calling, but your number was unreachable…”
“I… well, I lost my phone back then, and things just got hectic. But never mind me, how have you been?”
“Hey, why are we standing out here? Let’s head to my place. Guess what? We’re having a little get-together with friends tomorrow, would you like to come?”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose…”
“No trouble at all, come on, we’ve been friends since nursery. Look, here’s the address. Oh, where are you staying?”
“At a hotel.”
“Why not stay with us? We just got a three-bedroom place.”
“When did that happen? Oh, sorry, it’s my habit, I’m a real estate agent, haha. No, Julia, the hotel is covered by work, thanks though.”
“So, will you come then?”
“I’ll try my best, Julia. It’s great running into you…Oh, and your husband? Is he okay with this… or do you not have one?”
“I do! We got married, remember? Boris!”
“Boris?”
“Yes, Abram. You forgot? He was in the school near my house, lived in our building… don’t you remember? Used to give us rides on his bicycle?”
“Oh, Boris? You married Boris? Yeah, I vaguely remember.”
“Exactly. We’ve been together for eight years, we’ve got two kids now, Michael and Anne. How about you?”
“Alright, Julia, I’ll definitely come… we’ll catch up.”
“Glad I found you again.”
“Yes…”
Over dinner, Julia, known just as Julie at home, told Boris she had run into Angela.
“Which Angela?”
“Angela Brown. Don’t you recall her? You used to give us rides on your bicycle; I was always on the frame, she rode on the back.”
We were so silly back then, haha. Remember? We even complained for you to take turns riding us on the frame, haha, all that fuss over nothing.
And then you carried only me on the frame, you practically stopped letting anyone else have a go. At one point, I thought Angela felt hurt…
Honestly, I even wondered if Angela had a crush on you, Boris… Ah, childhood…
“Mm-hmm. Why bring her up now?”
“I just told you, we bumped into each other.”
“In town? What’s she doing here? Or does she live here now?”
“No, she’s attending some training. Says she’s in real estate.”
“Real estate? I thought she studied something else?”
“Not sure, find out tomorrow…you know, we drifted apart back then. But why did you think she studied something different?”
“I don’t know, everyone seems to study something…”
“True enough… I’ll ask her tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? You’ve set up another meet? Did you forget, Julia? The Watsons are visiting…”
“Yes, I remember, that’s why I invited Angela over.”
“Really? Why?”
“How come? Boris, she’s a childhood friend… And yours too, mind you.”
“Mine? How do you figure?”
Julia worked as a primary school teacher, adored by the little ones; it was her dream job, so she went to work happily and, though tired, always returned with a smile.
But today she seemed troubled for some reason, despite everything being fine.
Something wasn’t right, but Julia couldn’t figure out what it was.
She got home, she and Boris prepared dinner together as always, but still, Julia couldn’t shake the sticky feeling, making her feel ready to cry.
What was going on?
The friends arrived at seven; they had one child, the same age as Anne, a three-year-old who had everyone chuckling.
Michael, five years old, didn’t want to play with the little ones, choosing to disappear to his room and watch cartoons instead.
Gathered around the table, engaged in lively discussions, Julia began to forget the unpleasant feeling until the doorbell rang, making her jump.
“Who could that be?” Julia asked, suddenly anxious.
“What do you mean, you invited your old… childhood friend, what was her name… Annabelle,” Boris said with a laugh.
“Oh, yes… Angela… right.”
Julia opened the door to an enchanting, fragrant, freshly coiffed Angela, whose sparkling hair glistened like freshly fallen snowflakes.
“My, my, you’re quite the sight, friend…”
With a soft cheek-to-cheek greeting, the dazzling and tantalizing Angela handed her coat to Julia and breezed into the spacious room.
“Everyone, meet Angie,” Julia said dully, noticing how Boris suddenly perked up and how Oliver straightened with interest.
Throughout the evening, Angela basked in the limelight, laughing and joining in every conversation, captivating all with her charm, while Julia… Julia was overwrought with unease.
And in playful jest, masked her cruder stories from childhood in supposed fun, leaving Julia mortified.
Julia withdrew to the kitchen, feeling tears well up. What was going on? The kitchen window faced the balcony, also accessible from the main room.
In the dark, she leaned against the window when she heard voices. What was this?
“Ah, you’ve done quite well for yourself, haven’t you?” she heard Angela’s voice, “A three-bedroom flat? While I’m crammed in a single room?”
Well done, you see to your kids and dress your woman in nice things, looking at that car of hers…
Money for the child will suffice. I’m uninterested in your issues, but I need a place as great as your wife’s… or…
Julia didn’t listen further. With a set face, she went back into the living room where friends were entertaining the restless kids.
“Julia, what’s the matter with you? You look pale…”
“No, no, I’m fine… Just drank too much wine… Where is everyone?”
“Boris went for a smoke; Angela with him, apparently she smokes?”
“Really? I didn’t know…”
Julia tried to enjoy herself, joining conversations, but felt she was merely going through the motions. Her mind was spinning, and she couldn’t get comfortable.
When Boris and Angela returned, Angela was even more cheerful, drinking wine, while Boris appeared… confused?
When everyone leaves… so will he, Julia thought, already mentally bidding her husband farewell.
There was no question about their affair; when did he manage this?
He doesn’t stay late at work, we’re always together, his phone’s accessible, his computer too… what an impeccable cover-up…
Julia barely waited as the guests started leaving, sensing something was off.
Only Angela continued to enjoy herself as if nothing were amiss.
Once the last door shut, Julia sent the children to their room and sat down, facing Boris and Angela.
“So, lovers, when were you planning to break the news? I mean really, Boris… If you have this grand romance, why bother with me? My paycheck isn’t impressive, I’m not leaving you a hefty inheritance, why bear it? Go on, and move in with her. Does my place unsettle you, Angela? Well, it’s in mortgage, take it if you will. I’ll figure something out with the kids.”
Still envious from childhood? Go ahead, take him, be happy…
Boris wanted to defend himself, but Julia didn’t allow it…
“Haha, you’ve finally lost it? Who’d want your weakling… He owes me, rather, owes the child…”
“What child?”
“Julia, let me explain,” Boris tried approaching his wife, but she stopped him.
“Boris, do you have a child with this… woman?”
“Boris, do you have a child with this woman?” Angela mocked Julia and laughed heartily, “Why the silence?”
“I’ll explain everything, Julia.”
“Fine, try and explain… I’ll share my bit then. Remember the summer after school? You went away with your parents, and your Boris, well, kept me company throughout the nights, leading to my pregnancy…”
“Why?” Julia, eyes brimming with tears, asked no one in particular… “For what? Why then me?”
“She’s lying, Julie.”
I don’t remember anything, it happened once, during Ruslan Egorov’s send-off, my first time trying homemade liquor.
She clung on, spiking my drinks all night… I’m not justifying anything, it’s my fault, she came over a week later claiming I assaulted her yet she claimed to love me… She wanted me to marry her…
I refused, still, she threatened, cried, begged. Then claimed I’d regret it.
Told her if the child was mine, I wouldn’t abandon him, but if I was truly guilty, she should press charges.
She never did, companion into police, she refused… Invited her to the doctor’s…
Then you went away for studies, I followed, our parents moved, we lost her…
Five years ago, after Michael’s birth, she reappeared.
Demanded money for her son…
“And?”
“I poured my bonuses into paying her, the side jobs, salary hikes, all to help a child, blameless in this…”
“Naturally,” Angela quipped slyly, “a nice sum over time…”
“So, that’s it, Julia… The child wasn’t at fault.”
“What’s your son’s name?” Julia asks.
Boris and Angela said… different names in unison.
“Oh, really? Then is it Tom or Luke, Angela?”
“He has a double name,” Angela started backtracking.
“Have you even seen your son?”
“No, not in person. She sent photos, I’ve got them saved in a separate folder… I…well, a child… I… Julia, I want to help my son…”
“Boris,” Julia asked in a low voice, “does that folder happen to be called AAAAA?”
Boris blushed and nodded.
“Oh, I thought you’d lost it, keeping pictures of some boy from vintage films for no reason. Angela, did you really take him for a fool? Making him pay you five years without question and sent edited actor’s photos?”
“Well, screw you, idiots. I caught you both… When I spotted your Boris, my plan was finally set… Didn’t work out before, now’s my chance, and he bit the hook, fool.”
“Now, goodbye…”
“Stop,” Julia blocked her exit, “You really believe you can just walk out? You’ll return every penny my husband gave, friend.”
“Yes, leaving, just like that,” Angela replied with a grin, “You lack evidence; he gave me money on his interest, it’s me he’s liked all along, get it? Me, not you, bland loaf.”
I’ll prove our affair in every court, he just showered me with gifts, so calm down and thank your luck… friend.”
Angela left.
Julia and Boris sat silently.
“Why didn’t you speak up?”
“Afraid of losing you…”
“How foolish, Boris… a modern guy, talking week-long pregnancies, really… what were you thinking?”
Boris shrugged helplessly.
“I swear, Julia, no more secrets…”
If you believe the author misused expressions here, that some things couldn’t possibly occur, that language should be updated because it’s outdated, I am not sorry.
You don’t need to inform me about how you listen to rock and wear mini skirts in your sixties, I’m not interested.
Attempts to offend, humiliate, invoke anger or shame— save them.
I’m human, flesh and bone, not here to please everyone.
Negative opinions on my so-called blatant flaws aren’t required.
This platform is a place for joy, where friends come for positivity.
Take your leave quietly, I ban provocative commentators and nonsensical rhetoric.
I could not care less that you couldn’t care less.
Find the exit point over there…
