‘We’d always planned to travel when we eventually retired so she proposed I retire early and we do that. I loved my job so I refused and unhelpfully suggested that the reason she was struggling to find a job was because she was being too fussy, wanting to be the same level as before, and she should consider more junior positions.’
He grimaced, evidently ashamed of the approach he’d taken. ‘She bumped into an ex at a job club who was struggling with unexpected redundancy and…’ He broke off with a sigh and stared out of the window for a moment, as though searching for the words on the wind.
‘It was Veronica who spotted them together in a pub one day. When Noreen saw Vee, she knew the game was up. She asked her not to say anything and Vee said she wouldn’t but encouraged Noreen to tell me herself, so she did. We went for marriage guidance and I learned a lot about myself. I thought I’d been supportive but all I’d done was throw platitudes at Noreen. I hadn’t listened to her or understood her pain. In fact, I hadn’t even realised she was in pain.’
‘But that surely didn’t justify her having an affair?’ Milly said when Laughlin paused once more to sip his drink.
‘No, it didn’t, but it’s not like she sought him out deliberately. They just happened to be in the same job club and she turned to someone she knew who gave her the support and understanding that she wasn’t getting from me. She felt invisible in the workplace but she also felt invisible at home and the ex saw her. And even though I was heartbroken that she’d turned to another man, I saw her at that point too. I saw the woman I still loved and I wanted to try and rescue our marriage but there was no way I could do that if I was still working. So I did take early retirement and we started our travels around Europe. It was hard at first. There was a lot of resentment between us. I’d failed her but she’d failed me too. We made a decision to stop sniping at each other and enjoy our surroundings and properly talk when we felt calmer. Our European travels saved our marriage because we got to know each other again and, fortunately, fell in love all over again.’
Paulette placed her hand over Laughlin’s. ‘I’m so sorry. I had no idea.’
‘We’d moved on and were in a good place by the time she joined Cake & Craft Club. There was no need to talk about it and stir up difficult memories.’
‘I’m sorry you went through that,’ I said. ‘I can see why it makes you the ideal person for Veronica to talk to.’
I’d finished Laughlin’s cross stitch last week and had it framed. It was currently in my car but I wasn’t sure whether it was appropriate to give it to him now after what he’d just revealed, although he had said that their travels had got their marriage back on track and he’d originally shared that photo with me as a happy memory. Paulette and Milly hadn’t yet finished their drinks but Laughlin and I had so I saw an opportunity to steal him away momentarily.
‘You know a bit about cars, don’t you?’ I said. ‘Can I borrow you for a moment to look at a warning light on mine?’
Laughlin followed me to where my car was parked outside.
‘There’s nothing wrong with my car,’ I admitted as I opened the boot. ‘I made something for you but, after what you just told us, I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable if I gave you it in front of the others. I won’t be offended if you don’t want it.’
I peeled back the bubble wrap protecting the cross stitch and tilted the frame towards him, watching his face carefully for his initial reaction. Thankfully, it was a positive one.
‘That’s never a cross stitch?’ he said, his eyes wide.
‘It is. I found this company who turn photos into patterns.’
‘It’s incredible! Thank you so much.’ He couldn’t seem to take his eyes away from it. ‘I can understand why you’d be worried about giving me it but I love it, Yvonne. That particular moment right there in theacqua altawas extra special because it was the moment we both knew everything was back on track. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.’
He turned to face me. ‘You’re so kind, you know. Vee and I were talking about you yesterday and how glad we both were that you’d joined our club.’
Tears rushed to my eyes and I couldn’t speak for fear I’d start sobbing. That meant the world to me so I hugged Laughlin and whispered, ‘Thank you,’ into his chest.
He patted my back. ‘No. Thank you.’
36
The following day, we met at the shop at 10a.m. to start on the cleaning and, to everyone’s relief, Veronica joined us. Pale-faced and subdued, she looked as though a feather could knock her down.
‘It’s great to see you,’ Paulette said.
‘I wasn’t going to let you lot take all the credit for the refurbishment.’ Veronica’s words were jovial but her voice was strained and her smile awkward. I wanted to hug her tightly but I sensed it had taken every ounce of willpower to get here and that a demonstration of care like that would tip her over the edge. I suspected the others felt the same as the focus was jokes:Damn right! No slackers on this watch!
Paulette had purchased the cleaning products and she handed out yellow rubber gloves to everyone except Veronica.
‘I’ve got something a little classier for you, Veronica.’
Paulette handed her a pair of bright pink gloves with feathered cuffs and fake pearls on them. Veronica stared at them for a moment then burst out laughing as she pulled them on and posed with them. It had been an inspired purchase because Veronica’s mood completely lifted from that point.
We stopped at lunchtime, mindful of Milly needing to work but wanting to be as much a part of getting the shop ready as everyone else.
‘I never imagined a scenario where I’d enjoy cleaning quite so much as I have this morning,’ Veronica said, her smile genuine this time. ‘Every time I looked down at my gloves, I couldn’t help smiling. Your chatter and laughter were just the tonic I needed too. You’ve helped pull me back from a dark place and I’m so grateful.’
That was the appropriate point for hugs and, as I squeezed Veronica tightly, I marvelled at how long I’d gone without physical human contact and how powerful and restorative it could be. What had happened to Veronica had nothing to do with me, but her journey did. I was honoured to be part of her healing and it was healing me in return.
* * *
