She stuck out her hand to shake mine and we both laughed.
‘Can I tell you something?’ Maya went on. ‘I know you and your husband have your issues but you’re lucky.’
I raised my brows sceptically. ‘Really?’
‘He really seems to love you. It’s one of the things I’ve noticed when I see you both in the waiting room.’
I beamed, reminded of how good we were, which made the situation we now found ourselves in bittersweet. ‘Thank you, I know he’s a good one. I’m so blessed to have him and Finn. I just hope we can work things out,’ I added sadly.
‘You will – your foundations are strong.’
‘What about you?’ I ventured. ‘Will you guys have another?’ I wouldn’t usually dare ask such a personal question but because Maya had asked me first, it seemed fair game.
Maya shook her head. ‘I mean, I’d like to… but I’d have to get my husband to sleep with me first.’ She smiled sadly.
I rearranged my features, trying not to look shocked. I wasn’t used to people being so frank about their sex lives. Even with my girlfriends, we never spoke about stuff like this. ‘A-are you two, you know…’ I stumbled over my words, feeling clumsy and awkward.
‘We haven’t had sex in over two years,’ she stated bluntly. ‘To be brutally honest, I don’t think he finds me attractive any more.’
I knew I was doing a good impression of a goldfish but I couldn’t help it. In what universe could this be possible? Any red-blooded male would be falling over themselves to sleep with Maya. The woman was stunning.
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ I said sympathetically. ‘He must be crazy.’
‘It’s hard to compete with porn,’ she added dryly.
I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. ‘Does he watch a lot of porn?’
She nodded. ‘And then he… um… he had trouble… you know, getting it up.’
‘I see…’ I said. I had only just met this woman but she was opening up to me about stuff I would never discuss with even my closest friends. It seemed Maya shared whatever was on her mind. She wasn’t prudish or embarrassed and it was refreshing. The more she shared with me, the more I found myself wanting to open up and tell her things in return.
‘Is that why you two are in therapy?’ I asked, feeling braver now.
Maya nodded and picked up a sachet of sugar from the bowl in the centre of the table and began fiddling with it. ‘That’s the tip of the iceberg, to be honest. There’s loads more stuff, too much to go into. I never thought marriage could be so lonely. I come from a broken home and I don’t want Elliot to go through the same thing that I did so I’m trying so hard for his sake but between you and me,’ Maya leaned across the table towards me and I found myself moving closer too, noticing a film of tears glazing the woman’s amber-coloured eyes, ‘I don’t know if there’s a way back for us. But I’ve got to try. For Elliot’s sake, I have to try.’
I placed my hand over Maya’s and squeezed it. ‘Julia is a good therapist – we’ve found her sessions really helpful – so I hope you guys can work it out.’
‘Thanks, Liv. Julia said we have to try and get the spark back but it’s so hard. “Get a babysitter”, “Go on a date or a weekend away. When couples have children, it can be all-consuming and they can often lose themselves along the way, blah… blah.” But that all seems like a step too far for where we are at right now; the thought of sitting opposite him in a restaurant with other diners able to overhear us if things got heated makes me cringe.’
‘Why don’t you try and create a date night at home?’ I suggested. ‘You could make a nice dinner, get dressed up. And if it didn’t go to plan, at least you’re in your own home and nobody will know.’
‘That’s a good idea, actually, thanks. It’s so good to have someone to talk to about it all. I can’t talk to Hugo and my friends wouldn’t get it. Most of them are in loveless marriages and stay for the money. Once the fancy holidays and new cars keep on coming, they don’t complain, but I guess I just hoped for more in my relationship.’ She lowered her gaze.
‘Of course you did.’ I reached across the table and patted the side of her arm.
‘Thank you, Liv. I don’t really have anyone to talk to about it all so thank you for listening to me.’
I felt a warm glow spread through me like honey running off the back of a spoon. I would never have thought I would have had anything to offer a woman as put-together as Maya. A woman who appeared to have it all but I was learning that appearances were deceiving.
‘Not at all. I’m glad I could help and likewise, I don’t like telling my friends or family about our issues; they all think Jay and I have the perfect marriage.’ I smiled.
‘It just goes to show you that nobody knows what’s going on in anyone else’s life. Do you know something?’ Maya asked. ‘Meeting you for this coffee has done me the world of good. Do you want to call over after school tomorrow with Finn? The boyscould have a play and burn off some energy while we have a coffee?’
‘Sounds great.’ I beamed, feeling as though our relationship had taken a deeper turn.
‘Here, take my number.’ Maya called out her mobile number for me to save in my phone. ‘We live in Fairmont Heights.’
I gulped. I knew the street; it was one of Dublin’s most expensive addresses. ‘Great, see you then.’
