‘You make it sound like I could keep it in a matchbox and take it out every now and again and play with it. Are you worried that I’m lonely?’
‘No…Not exactly. I know you’ve got your family, work and friends. But a sweet little face looking up at you every morning would be nice.’
She was putting herself in Maddie’s position. Living on her own was one of the things that scared her the most if it didn’t work out with Doug. She’d never done it. She’d gone straight from her parents to university halls, followed by living with a group of friends, and then him.
Maddie handed over the binoculars again.
‘You might be right. I’ll give it some thought. And while Motormouth is off having fun, how are you really feeling about DCB at the moment?’
Charlotte put down her drink.
‘That’s a conversation swerve and a half. I will admit I do find it a bit difficult when Sof goes off on one of her rants. Obviously, she was deeply affected by what her dad did, but like most things, my relationship woes aren’t so black and white.’
Maddie kept her own counsel. It was important for Charlotte to say what she really thought without comments either way.
People always told her she was a great listener and so non-judgemental, but what that really meant was that she knew when to keep her trap shut in the main.
‘Also, I wouldn’t say it to her face, but Sof has never really been in a long-term relationship with all its ups and downs. Yes, she had that very brief marriage to Rupert, but he was just a temporary dad substitute, and she knows it. Since then, it’s been a parade of gorgeous, but ultimately unsuitable men. So, I think it’s hard for her to know what it would be like to jack in a thirty-year marriage.’
Maddie restricted herself to nodding.
‘Obviously she’d understand it with her head, but I’m not sure she’d really feel it.’
Maddie didn’t really want to get sidetracked onto Sofia’s issues now she’d got Charlotte on her own.
‘Agreed. But as it’s just the two of us, howisit going?’
Charlotte put her head in her hands.
‘I’m all over the place. One minute I’m furious with Doug, the next I can’t imagine living without him.’
‘Even after what he’s done?’
Charlotte stopped speaking and Maddie worried she’d skated too close to the edge this time.
‘Again, it’s not that simple.’
The tears glittered in Charlotte’s eyes when she looked up again.
‘What do you mean? What is it?’
What could possibly justify Doug’s behaviour was the question on the tip of her tongue, but she kept it back.
‘I can see now that as the boys grew up, we started drifting apart. My career had taken off, big time, and I think Doug felt threatened by that.’
‘But doesn’t he run a successful business?’
‘To be honest, it’s never been quite as successful as he made out. I’ve been the main breadwinner for years now.’
‘Wow. I had no idea.’
‘No one has. I keep the truth away from people to protect Doug.’
‘Ah, the fragile male ego. I think we’ve all dealt with that.’
‘I might as well be completely honest. In the past couple of years, it’s gone from bad to worse. I’ve put in money to keep the business afloat, but at the same time our relationship has been going slowly downhill.’
Maddie stroked her friend’s arm.
