‘Well, she knows he’s married with two children. She must know that he just walked out of our house to go to work and didn’t come back. That he didn’t tell me what was happening. Didn’t confess his affair. That he sent Louis round to get his things for him and it was Louis who told me about them, not Joel. That he hasn’t seen the twins for weeks and never calls them or wants to talk to them. She probably knew that he was going to tell them about us today, without even warning me. It doesn’t add up, does it?’
He was confused, not following her train of thought. ‘What doesn’t add up?’
‘Well, how can she love someone who behaves in that manner?’ Tears welled up again as she said brokenly, ‘Sam, how can she possibly love a man who can do that to his wife and children?’
He stared at her, seeing the bewildered expression in her eyes as she tried to make sense of something that was clearly beyond her comprehension. Gently he took her hand.
‘Jenna?’
‘Yes?’ she asked, tucking her straggly hair behind her ears and waiting for him to explain this dilemma to her.
‘It’s not her you should be asking that question of, is it? It’s you.’
She frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘How canyoulove someone who behaves in that manner? How canyoupossibly love a man who can do that to his wife and children?’
There was a long silence as Jenna stared back at him. He could see a whole range of emotions flickering in her eyes as she followed multiple trains of thought. It was honestly as if she’d never even asked herself that question before, though Sam could hardly believe it was true.
‘I… I don’t know,’ she admitted eventually. Her voice was thick with emotion. ‘I suppose it doesn’t make sense either, does it?’
‘No, it really doesn’t. This Annette woman hardly knows him. She’s probably completely smitten with him and in those early stages some people are willing to overlook all the red flags. But you’ve lived with him. You’ve married him, had children with him. He’s treated you all terribly, yet you’re confused about howshecan overlook that behaviour?’
Jenna didn’t seem to have any words left. She stared into her cold cup of tea, twisting a damp tissue between her fingers and looking wretched.
Sam realised he still had his arm around her, and that it wasn’t very appropriate for a boss to be so familiar with his employee, and that if he sat here much longer with her, she might start to think he was as sleazy as her husband.
Clearing his throat in awkward embarrassment, he moved his arm away and nudged the chair a little further back.
‘Why don’t you take the rest of the night off and come back tomorrow if you’re feeling a bit better?’ he suggested.
She blinked as if she’d only just remembered that she was supposed to be at work. ‘The bar! How are you managing?’
He smiled. ‘Dad’s down there.’
‘Your dad!’ Her mouth fell open in shock. ‘But he never goes in there!’
‘Well, he has now. He thought it more important that I should come and check on you.’
She groaned. ‘He heard me?’
‘He was watchingEast Riding Round-Upin the next room.’ Sam grinned. ‘Seems your wailing was much louder than the newsreader’s dulcet tones.’
‘I’m so embarrassed,’ she said, shaking her head.
‘Like I said before, don’t be. Just get yourself home, get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow evening. But only if you feel up to it. If you don’t, it’s not a problem.’ He winked. ‘I might even persuade Dad to give me a hand for a whole shift. You never know.’
He wondered if it was possible. Would his dad relent, now that he’d taken that first important step of venturing back into the bar? It might be too much to hope for, but there was a part of Sam that just couldn’t help it.
‘I think I will go home after all,’ Jenna said hesitantly. ‘If you’re sure you don’t mind? Mum said she’d wait up for me. She wants to talk to me. She doesn’t really know what’s been going on all this time and she deserves to. I hope the twins are okay. She messaged me and said they’re in bed. They’ve had supper and a bath, and she thinks they’re dealing with it all right. Better than me, anyway.’
‘Children are remarkably resilient,’ he said. It was something people often said, anyway. He had no personal experience of the fact, but he hoped, for all their sakes, that it was true.
‘It’s their birthday a week tomorrow,’ she said dully. ‘We’re having a party for them in the garden at Watersmeet. Weather permitting. We invited Joel but he’s not sure he can make it.’
‘Right,’ Sam said.
‘You must come, anyway,’ she said. ‘If you can get away from the pub. You and your dad. You’d both be very welcome. Mac and Mum would love to see your dad actually socialising, I know that. I’ve ordered the twins a cake from a shop in Millensea. It’s lovely. They’re going to have a brilliant time, aren’t they?’
