She wondered then whether he’d told any of his business clients, or the neighbours. She’d put money on him having not told a soul that she’d walked out on him or even that they had separated. It wouldn’t be good for his image.
‘Margot… just get in the car. Please.’ He spoke through gritted teeth.
‘I’m not getting in the car, Perry.’ And then she looked him in the eye for the first time since he’d started the confrontation. ‘And I have told the boys.’
The remark knocked the wind out of him and she could see his mind adjusting to the knowledge.
‘You’re turning them against me.’
‘I’m not.’ He’d done that all by himself and it wasn’t her job to point it out or her job to try and fix it. She’d been attempting to do that over the years, but he never listened. He never saw anything wrong with his behaviour or what he said to his sons and she was tired of trying to make him see reason.
When she looked at him again he was sneering. It was a particular look that he managed to hide so often that sometimes she’d wondered whether she was imagining it. But she didn’t look away as she usually did. She kept her gaze fixed on him, on the whites of his eyes as he grew more frustrated.
‘You’re being ridiculous, you know.’
She said nothing.
And he got nastier and became sarcastic. ‘Oh, you’ve had such a terrible life in a big house not having to work, staying at home, food on the table, all the luxuries you could ever want.’
Usually when he got like this at home she’d walk away, avoid the conflict. But she’d got this far. She had to show him that things had changed. And there was no going back.
She delivered her blow quickly and bluntly. ‘I’ve been in touch with a solicitor. I’ve filed for divorce and you’ll be hearing from them soon.’ Her heart thumped wildly as she got it all out and waited for a reaction.
He looked up at the sky, at her, around them. And finally, he got it. He understood.
He stomped around to the other side of the car. ‘Well, I hope you’ve got a good one; you’ll need it.’
He was threatening her, but she wasn’t scared. She’d never felt afraid of him. He’d just got into her head and made her feel like she would never be able to have her own life without him.
‘You don’t know how lucky you are!’ He jabbed his finger in her direction.
She held her head up high the whole time he fixed her with a glare that usually made her crumble and admit defeat.
Yes, she knew she was lucky. She was lucky to have finally left him.
Lucky to be free.
23
FAYE
Faye set down a jug of mint sauce on the kitchen table at Bonnie’s cottage. ‘Wherever has Margot got to?’ Her tummy grumbled at the enticing smell of the roast lamb that filled the room. ‘I thought she said she’d be here by 7p.m.’
The curtains had been left tied back and when she stepped closer to the window she spotted their friend. ‘She’s here!’ She was about to knock on the glass to get Margot’s attention, but Margot was talking to someone.
Bonnie came up behind her and both of them huddled next to the window.
‘Oh, he’s handsome,’ said Bonnie. ‘Do you think he’s asking for directions?’
‘Does that happen a lot?’
‘Oh yes, Howard always found it fun to help people out. I didn’t mind but sometimes it got a bit tedious.’
But when the car roared into life and Margot turned to face them, they saw the expression on her face and they both knew that was no lost soul in the car.
They raced to the door at the same time as the car tyres let out a screech when the man took off. Faye would put money on him being Margot’s husband, Perry.
Bonnie ushered Margot inside. ‘Was that him?’ She’d obviously come to the same conclusion.
