Chapter 12
Richard studied the letter before him once more, one elbow on the breakfast bar. A small part of him thought,hoped, that Tara had been bluffing. That she wasn’t realistically about to go down this route. It was one thing her threatening him; she had done so in the past, but nothing had ever come of it. Now his eyes widened as he re-read just how far Tara was in fact prepared to go. She hadn’t been joking when she’d told him of her solicitor friend’s opinion of him. True to form, Claire had obviously persuaded Tara to fling everything possible at him.
He started to break into a sweat, again, as he took it all in. She wanted her pound of flesh all right, according to these figures. He gulped. For Richard knew that in the grand scheme of things, she was likely to get it. That bloody woman. Why now? It had been over a year since they’d parted (he hated referring to himself as ‘leaving’ his family; it pricked too hard on his conscience). In all that time, they had amiably made arrangements without any interference, especially from jumped-up Claire who he knew hated him.
He had to talk to Tara again, to reason with her. But even Richard knew that in order to do so he’d have to bring something to the table. Maybe up the maintenance a little? Or should he just offer her a lump sum, a one-off to shut her up once and for all? Andhowmuch would it take to stop the court proceedings? Exactly what would be the magic number Tara might settle for?
He continued to cast his eyes over the writing before him, stabbing him like a dagger to the heart. Tara wanted her share of the dental practice, claiming it was their joint finances that had funded the business initially. It had been. He couldn’t argue with that. But surely the home, holidays and lifestyle the practicehad provided her with had compensated? Richard refused to acknowledge that, actually, their home had been sold, the holidays ended and Tara’s lifestyle had taken a drastic nosedive since he’d cleared off with his dental nurse. He ran a hand through his hair and gulped again. If his ex-wife got her way he’d be financially ruined, well, not exactly, he conceded, but certain measures would need to be made. His eyes then slid to Melissa who was entering the kitchen. Melissa didn’t make measures. If anything, she exceeded them.
‘Any post?’ she asked, passing him and noticing he’d been reading something.
‘Just junk mail.’ He tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, when inside he was on meltdown. He quickly shoved the letter inside his trouser pocket. The last thing he needed was his new wife kicking up a fuss. Melissa did that all right. Oh yes, she definitely did. He winced at the thought of her getting wind of Tara taking her fair share – no, he quickly corrected himself, not her fair share, just what that cow Claire had instructed her to grab. The sooner he tried to resolve things with Tara the better.
‘What have you got planned for today?’ Melissa asked, putting the kettle on.
‘Err… Nothing yet,’ he answered, all the time plotting when it would be best to confront his ex-wife again.
‘Good,’ she answered. ‘I thought we could go into town, look at prams.’
Richard’s eyes closed in despair. That was another worry. A baby he absolutely hadn’t planned. Another child. He remembered when Tara had announced her pregnancy years ago. How elated they’d both been. Somehow he just couldn’t stump up the enthusiasm this time. Probably because he knew what was in store for him; sleepless nights followed by the joy of puberty. Now he was older and wiser –olderbeing the operative word. He’d be one of the oldest dads at the school gate and theidea really didn’t appeal to him. Richard was a very vain man. He’d loved having a young, attractive woman on his arm. He’d enjoyed the looks other men had slid his way. It gave him a buzz, bedding someone almost half his age. But instead of a youthful, fit wife who pandered to his every need, he now had a pregnant one who never stopped demanding. On top of this, it seemed he also had an ex-wife who was proving to be pretty demanding too. He slowly saw his future slipping between his fingers, unable to stop the flow of events. He didn’t have control of his life any more. Or rather, he’d made choices and was about to suffer the consequences. He could imagine the looks other men were about to give him now. Pity. They’d be sympathetic, maybe even laughing, that he had had to start again at his age.
His thoughts got darker and darker the more he contemplated being a dad again. He remembered the early days with Calum and how difficult he’d been as a newborn. He’d suffered with dreadful colic which had meant endless sleepless nights. Richard also recalled how good Tara had been with him, constantly tending to their tiny baby who was crippled with pain. She had been a star, always keeping calm whilst administering Calum’s medicine and gently comforting him. Whereas he’d been a complete wreck. He’d panicked, flustered, and was unable to function with lack of sleep. Tara had been the strong one, she had compensated for his lack. He did however make up for it by providing well for them. He’d worked hard at his surgery and made good money for his family. They’d been a great team. Once again he dully reflected on just what he’d given up, both the wife and the life. It was time to admit it to himself; he’d ballsed up – big time.
‘Did you hear me, Richard?’ Melissa’s voice tinged with impatience.
That was another thing, he thought with sudden annoyance, the way she’d started talking to him, like she’d told him something twenty times before. He didn’t answer her.
‘Richard?’ she snapped.
He looked up and stared into her face. Yes, he conceded, she was pretty enough with her big blue eyes and button nose, but her beauty he now realised didn’t run deep. It was superficial, a veneer to hide what was inside. Melissa, he grasped, was only beautiful on the outside. And how had he come to this conclusion? Because she’d tricked him. Never had they ever discussed starting a family; in fact, she’d actually stated she didn’t much care for motherhood. This had been one of the things that had attracted him. Richard had unwisely taken Melissa at her word. He genuinely believed they were on the same page. He stupidly thought that they would forever remain childless, always having that independent lifestyle he craved. He felt like weeping at the thought of saying goodbye to all the luxuries he enjoyed, which were about to be replaced with fatherhood, again. Only this time it would be worse. This time he didn’t have a strong, capable wife to handle a crying newborn baby. He didn’t have Tara. He had Melissa. Melissa, who had decided for him that they were starting a family. He’d had absolutely no say. He’d had absolutelyno ideaof his young wife’s plans, which then made Richard gulp again. What else did she have planned? Could she be conspiring other things, like to divorce him in a few years’ time? Would Melissa take him to the cleaners too?
‘Are you listening to me?’ she spat, moving towards him, her face butting up to his.
‘Yes,’ he answered wearily. What a fool he’d been.
He could hear Tara’s voice in his head. There’s no fool like an old fool, is there, Richard?
