Betrayal, Take Two
Veronica and Tanya drove to work together. Tanya, reliable and sensible, was at the wheel while Veronica, carefree and radiant, chattered away. They had met in the office a decade ago, sharing a workspace with two other colleagues. Neither was married—their grown children had lives of their own. Tanya had lost her beloved husband seven years earlier in a tragic accident and never considered love again.
*”You ought to find someone, Tanya,”* Veronica often insisted. *”Not necessarily marriage, but companionship!”*
*”I don’t even think about it,”* Tanya sighed. *”We were two halves of one whole. Now he’s gone, and there’s no one else for me.”*
Veronica, charming and spirited, had divorced eight years prior after walking in on her husband in a compromising situation. She hadn’t even argued—just tossed his things out. Her flat, her rules. Since then, she’d dated, hoping to find someone worth following to the ends of the earth. But no such man had appeared.
Recently, Veronica celebrated her forty-fifth—a “berry jubilee,” she called it—with a lavish dinner. Tanya had warned against marking forty, whispering about old wives’ tales. *”Nonsense!”* Veronica laughed. *”Life’s too dull if you fret over superstitions.”*
That night, a handsome stranger—reminiscent of a film star—caught Veronica’s eye. Before Tanya noticed, he was at their table, charmed into joining them.
*”Where’d you find him?”* Tanya muttered.
*”He asked me to dance!”* Veronica beamed. *”I mentioned my birthday, and he promised a gift tomorrow.”*
Soon, Veronica was seeing Dennis. By their second date, she learned he was married. *”We’re divorcing,”* he assured her. *”The children are grown—there’s nothing left between us.”*
He wooed her splendidly: roses, dinners, countryside drives. Nights at her flat became routine. Tanya barely recognized her friend.
*”You’re floating like a butterfly,”* Tanya observed. *”Carefree, thoughtless.”*
*”He’s wonderful, Tanya! I’ve lost my head!”*
*”Don’t get carried away. That man’s a rake—a proper charmer.”* But Veronica only laughed.
*”Tanya, envy’s an ugly thing.”*
*”I’m not envious. I just know you—you’ll crash hard when this ends.”*
A year and a half passed. Dennis stopped mentioning divorce. Worse, he’d found a younger woman—ten years Veronica’s junior—just as lively and free. He grew distant, dodging questions until Veronica cornered him.
*”I’ve fallen in love,”* he admitted. *”I meant to tell you sooner. But there it is. No hard feelings?”*
Veronica sobbed on Tanya’s shoulder for weeks. *”He played you,”* Tanya soothed. *”You’re wasting tears on a cheat. Look at yourself—hollow-eyed, gaunt. He isn’t worth it.”*
To distract her, Tanya dragged Veronica to films, dinners, even her mother’s cottage in the countryside with friends. Barbecues, laughter—slowly, Veronica healed.
*”You’re a true friend,”* she murmured once the storm had passed.
*”Thank heavens you’re better,”* Tanya replied, relieved.
Until one weekend, Veronica begged off their cottage trip. *”Things to do,”* she said vaguely. Tanya shrugged and went alone.
Returning Sunday evening, she nearly stumbled the next morning. There, by Veronica’s building, stood Dennis’s car—and Dennis himself. Tanya ducked into her own car and sped off.
*”So much for her ‘errands,’”* she fumed. *”Back to the same old heartbreak.”*
Veronica breezed into the office, late but glowing. Tanya’s sharp glance made her falter.
*”I saw Dennis outside your flat.”*
*”Oh, don’t scowl! Yes, he’s back. We ran into each other.”*
*”And you believed him again?”*
*”He invited me to Spain! Said life there was thrilling—that I’d outshine every beauty.”*
*”You’re serious?”*
*”He apologized! Said it was a fling, but I’m the one he loves.”*
Tanya exhaled. *”You’re hopeless. After the misery he put you through?”*
*”Tanya, I’m forty-five. It’s not like suitors are lining up!”*
*”I don’t trust him. Slippery as an eel.”*
*”Then I’ll use him for a free holiday! I’ve never been to Spain.”*
Tanya doubted Veronica’s cynicism. The woman was smitten—again.
Days later, Veronica called from Spain, gushing. *”Dennis is divine! Barely glances at the local women!”*
Tanya hung up, uneasy. *”Either I’m wrong, or he’s a master manipulator.”*
Veronica returned sun-kissed and elated, bearing gifts. *”He’s filing for divorce! We’ll marry soon!”*
*”Good,”* Tanya said flatly. *”Maybe I was wrong.”* (But doubt gnawed.)
Autumn arrived, wet and blustery. Then—a tearful call.
*”He left me! For a twenty-year-old!”*
Tanya rushed over, held her sobbing friend. *”I warned you, love. He was never serious.”*
*”I know, I know,”* Veronica sniffed.
Tanya hoped—*this* time—she’d learned. But only time would tell.
