I sent my husband off to a friends house for a handover and have been kicking myself ever since. Ill never go to Maggie again! I muttered. If he needs a plumber, let the council call a tradesman!
Whats the matter? asked Valerie, puzzled. Is something wrong?
Yes, everythings gone wrong! Ian blushed. She well, you know
What do you mean? Valerie pressed, as Ian stammered for words.
Why didnt you bring your husband? asked Mrs. Annabel, the senior accountant, noting the double fee on the invoice. We paid for two people.
Its fine, Im not on a diet, Valerie said with a grin. I can afford it!
Yes, but not in that sense, Mrs. Annabel glanced over her spectacles. It was assumed everyone would come as a couple.
Vals hiding her husband from us! interjected Zoey with a smirk.
Nothing of the sort, Valerie replied. Hes simply ill!
Already starting the New Year celebrations early? Zoey chuckled. Wed have given him a thousand grams of ginger and hed have been right as rain!
Or youd have left me a widow, Natasha shook her head.
Wed have drained him dry! Zoey waved her hand. We have such a garden here, any bloke would bounce back!
And then go dancing! Natasha smiled.
Val, could it be you dont actually have a husband? Zoey asked playfully. Maybe youre keeping a spare ring on your finger so the old lads dont cling to you?
Dont worry, well find you a proper man straight away. If its for health, a simple phone call will do.
I do have a husband, Valerie snapped dryly.
Yes, indeed! Natasha confirmed. She even brought me a marriage certificate from HR Ian Peterson, if memory serves.
Val, arent you keeping your husband away from us? It looks suspicious, Zoey wondered.
Two months ago we had a work retreat, and you only came with your son! Now its a corporate party and youre all alone! He never picks you up from work, never greets you, never sees you off!
He works, Valerie said succinctly.
Enough, why are you all hounding Val? Mrs. Annabel waved her hands. Shes got a husband! Shes happy! No one asked to meddle!
Mrs. Annabel, the chief accountant, represented authority at the office gatherings. The manager had already absented himself, as promised, to indulge in a night out, leaving the leadership a bit vague. By the second toast, he was already shuffling to the dance floor.
I think Val is hiding her husband from us, mused Veronica thoughtfully. We work closely with her, so were practically friends. Ive even been over to her flat.
Exactly! Zoey said, eyes fixed on her colleague.
What of it? Valerie asked.
Veronica pretended to ponder. How many times have I visited Vals house and never seen her husband? I could swear he was home at least twice.
Hes either in the loo or on the balcony, Val replied. Hes not the type to pry into my affairs.
The explanation seemed reasonable enough, and it would have settled everyone. Yet Valeries voice trembled so betrayingly that the table immediately sensed a trick.
Lying, Valentina, is unbecoming, Natasha warned. As the head of HR, she could spot a falsehood at a glance.
Good heavens! Valerie exclaimed. Why would he even matter to you?
We just want to know what sort of man he is, what kind of father, in case we need to give him a little nudge or some guidance, Zoey said. Perhaps we could help mould poor Ian Peterson a bit.
Dont try to reform him, Val snapped. Ill handle him myself!
Then at least describe him for us! Zoey urged. Youre new here, only six months, and we know nothing about you.
Ians my husband, plain and simple. Average bloke, works a steady job, Val shrugged. There are plenty like him.
Oh, youre being coy! Natasha laughed slyly. Youre hiding him from us, from your mates! Thats not proper, Valentina!
What if I have solid reasons? Val asked.
Then tell us, and well judge whether theyre legitimate, Zoey replied, ready to listen.
Yes, yes, Valentina, Mrs. Annabel encouraged. While our boss fancies himself a hero, the next program is on hold, and were entertaining ourselves with lifes little dramas.
Not much of a story, Val murmured uncertainly.
Well hear it! Zoey said, cheering Val on.
***
My earlier life, before we moved, unfolded in a modest market town about two thousand miles from here. All the pivotal moments of my youth stayed behind; the new chapter was calm, quiet, and measured. The hard lessons had already been taught, so the present could be enjoyed in tranquil happiness. The past, however, could not be called peaceful, especially the ending, but that is another tale.
I first met Ian at the factory after leaving school. He was a few years older and, on the seniority ladder, a step above me. That didnt stop a spark of office romance, which eventually grew into a sturdy marriage. The crew cheered for the young couple, though their joy was tinged with a strange sort of envy.
The plant where our family began was dominated by women; men were scarce, especially the pipefitting engineers like Ian. Many a lad drooled over him, and around the workshop he was the object of countless flirtations. When he finally became a married man, the female staff seemed to have swallowed a batch of lemons they turned sour and began resenting Valerie for snatching away a coveted husbandcandidate.
Still, they understood that only Valerie could win Ians heart. Those who had coveted him long before she arrived could not settle that hed chosen the newcomer, the one whod long ago been cutting at his heels. Even after the wedding, whispers lingered, hoping Ian might slip free again.
Does Val cook well? Keep the house tidy? Does she refuse on any front? they teased. Tell us! Ill say Im a marvelous cook, my home is spotless, and Im as diligent as a scout on the first call! Their jokes carried a grain of truth that made laughter uncomfortable.
When Val and Ians son arrived, another wave of lemonsour attitudes surged. The most persistent still could not accept that Ian was no longer up for grabs, and some even plotted to return him to the bachelor market.
All such schemes stayed tightly secret, and Vals smile was still welcomed. She rose to forewoman before maternity leave, earned a degree by correspondence, and after returning became a master craftsman, later deputy ward manager. Friendship with her was necessary, hatred lingered, a poisonous mix. Yet the goal of splitting her from Ian persisted.
Maggie, a fellow forewoman who also rose from the ranks, pushed hard to befriend Val. Val, however, kept her friendships honest and open, helping Maggie when she couldlending money, sharing knowledge, even sending her husband on minor repair jobs at Maggies house.
One incident made Val wary. Ian came back from Maggies, having replaced sockets, looking uneasy. He paced the flat before finally blurted out:
Im not going to Maggie again! Let the council call the tradesmen!
What happened? Val asked, baffled. Is something wrong?
Everythings wrong! Ian flushed. She well
Whats the matter? Val pressed as Ian struggled for words.
She was all over me! She practically lunged! I barely escaped! he gasped.
Youre joking? Val stared.
I swear on my sons health! Ian declared, voice shaking. She met me in a dressing gown, I thought I was at home. She grabbed me like a crab! I got bruises on my shoulder! Im done with her!
Maggie didnt know Ian would spill the beans to his wife, so the next day the workshop buzzed with gossip that Ian and Maggie had shared an unforgettable evening. Maggie even brandished a torn piece of his shirt as if it were a trophy.
Val confronted Maggie in the ladies room, warning her to stop spreading false rumors. Maggie, after receiving a sharp rebuke, retreated to fix her makeup, and Val thought that would be the end of it.
It was not.
At the companys holiday party, everyone came with their partners. The feast was towering, the merriment unrestrained. Val, however, noticed her husband missing from the circle of men. She slipped away to the restroom for a few minutes, and the search for him dragged on. The venue was a maze of corridors and oddly placed tables.
At last she found him, halfcollapsed, surrounded by three cheeky colleagues who were already stripping his coat. He didnt even try to fight back. Val stormed in, yanking the men by their hair, sending them stumbling out of the room. Ian, halfconscious, was a messdrooling, eyes glazed, clearly not himself.
She tried to coax him back to sense, searching for a glass of water or a flower vase, but instead she saw a camera on a tripod. Two plus two made a terrible sum. The three rascals were planning a prank video. If Val had seen the footage, she might have thrown Ian out forever. What betrayal could she ever forgive?
After the holidays, Val and Ian submitted their resignation letters. Revenge seemed a pale consolation; the cold reason that had driven the decision arrived too late. Everything about Ian had been aired, and it was easier to leave.
The sting was deepest because Maggie and the two other women were Vals friends.
Better not have friends at all! she concluded.
Later, after a long talk with Ian, they agreed Val would no longer introduce her mates to him.
If they dont see him, they cant meddle, Ian said. If they visit, Ill either hide or stay home.
So on the new site, in a fresh life, Val kept her private affairs far from the office, and no onecolleagues, friends, acquaintancesever learned about her husband.
***
What a prudent precaution! Mrs. Annabel said approvingly. What a cold calculation! If no one knows the husband, no one will try to steal him away!
Yes, Zoey sighed. Remember Nats husband? He disappeared too, taken by his best friend. And Sophie from marketingtwo kids left, and her mate vanished as well. Looks like its safer not to have friends at all.
I thought the same, Val agreed. But a new town, new peoplehow else do we socialise?
Ian suggested keeping his existence secret. Husband or not, who cares? Let the gossip die.
Its interesting, but I wont put myself in that line of fire, Verity murmured.
Dont even think about it! Mrs. Annabel warned, smirking. The fewer your friends know about your man, the less chance theyll whisk him away.
