‘Trouble is, once you get to know him properly, once you’re living under the same roof as him, my God it’s a different story. He’s soboringand self-obsessed! And does he ever put that sodding laptop down?’ Annette puffed out her cheeks and added another sugar lump to her tea. ‘I couldn’t be doing with him, moaning and complaining every five minutes, and wanting to paint my walls white. White! I said to him, I like bottle green on my walls, and what’s wrong with that? We can’t all be the same and at the end of the day it’smyhouse, not his.’
Jenna had no words, so she gulped a large mouthful of tea instead.
‘The clincher, though, was Mr Binks. He really didn’t like Joel at all, and no wonder! Joel was so horrible to him. I said to him, if it’s a choice between you and Mr Binks, Mr Binks wins every time.’
‘Mr… Mr Binks?’
‘My cat,’ Annette said warmly. ‘Joel’s not a cat person, is he?’
‘No,’ Jenna admitted. ‘Not a dog person either.’
‘See, he made out like he loved cats,’ Annette said bitterly. ‘Until it came to actually living with one, then it was all, “Oh, there’s cat hair in my tea!” and “Ugh! Does the litter trayhaveto go in the kitchen?” and “Why does that damn cat pad on you like that? It’s giving me the creeps.”’ She scowled. ‘What sort of person doesn’t love cats?’
As much as Jenna had a fondness for Mrs Beddows and cats in general, she couldn’t help thinking that, in this case, it sounded as if Joel had a point. Especially given the twins’ remarks about the litter tray needing changing. She wouldn’t fancy cat hair in her tea either. Now she came to think of it, she couldn’t help noticing that there were black cat hairs all over Annette’s top, too. It would drive Joel insane.
‘Anyway, enough’s enough,’ Annette said. ‘I’ve told him, he’s to be out of the house by Monday because it’s over. I can’t be doing with his strops and sulks and his endless complaining.’
Jenna’s heart thudded. ‘You’re kicking him out?’
‘Too right. So, like I said, you can have him back. I’ve packed his bags and he can go as soon as you give him the nod. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if he wasn’t already back at your place by the time I get home today.’
She smiled. ‘It will be nice for the twins anyway. Having their dad back, I mean. Aw, they’re good girls. I really liked them. He’s not much of a dad, though, is he? God, he got on my wick. What an eye opener that was, seeing him with them. He couldn’t be bothered to go swimming with them, you know. Just wanted to be on his laptop working. And sulking because we made him watchMoanainstead of whathewanted to watch. It was supposed to be a treat for the girls, not for him. Pathetic.’
She rolled her eyes in disgust and took another sip of tea before sighing. ‘I am sorry, you know. I believed all the crap he told me about you, but meeting Ada and Hallie, I thought, she can’t be that bad, not if she’s raised kids like these. They think the world of you, you know. It was all “Mummy this” and “Mummy that”. Drove Joel bonkers!’ She gave a satisfied grin. ‘I’m bloody glad it’s over, I really am. I don’t know how you stuck him for so long.’
‘But what about your job?’ Jenna asked. ‘Where will you go? What will you do?’
‘Do?’ Annette blinked, clearly puzzled. ‘What do you mean by that?’
‘If the affair’s over…’
‘That’s got nothing to do with work,’ Annette said fiercely. ‘I got that job fair and square and there’s no way he can get rid of me just cos I’m kicking him out of my house. I’d like to see him try,’ she added with a determined look in her eyes. ‘Nope, he’ll just have to lump it, won’t he? Orhecan look for another job. Won’t bother me, either way.’
She drained her tea then surveyed Jenna thoughtfully. ‘You deserve better, you know, and them bairns certainly do. What sort of a dad can just walk out on them without a backward glance, eh? He didn’t even seem bothered about seeing them. He only had them that day because I nagged and nagged at him. It was even me who bought them those birthday presents. Bet he never mentioned that, did he?’
Jenna shook her head dumbly.
‘Thought not. Well, I’ve said all I’ve got to say. I suppose the rest is up to you. If you want him, he’s yours and the best of British luck to you. You’ve been staying at your mum’s, haven’t you? If I were you, I’d pop round to your house before you go back there, cos I’ll bet you anything you like, he’s waiting there for you. Not for me to tell you what to do, obviously, but I’d think twice before welcoming him back, if I were you. Like I said, you deserve better, and so do them bairns. Nice to meet you, love. Good luck to you, whatever you decide.’
She got up and left the cafe, leaving Jenna sitting in stunned silence.
Joel’s affair was over. Just like that. And Annette seemed pretty certain he’d be at home when Jenna got back there. Was that even likely, given how he’d behaved? Would he have the audacity to believe he could just move back in, without even consulting her?
But then she remembered the last time he’d left her. How he’d turned up on the doorstep with his bags and had just assumed that she’d let him back in. No discussion. No apology. And she’d gone along with it, hadn’t she? Because she’d been pregnant with twins, and because she loved him. More than anything. More than anyone.
But now…?
Leaving her cup of tea only half drunk, Jenna pushed back her chair and headed outside, walking quickly towards her car.
Her conversation with Annette had made her see something that she should have seen years ago. She’d been way too good at refusing to acknowledge the things she didn’t want to be true, but that had to change. Now.
As she drove out of the park, Jenna could only hope that Annette was right, and that her errant husband had indeed returned home.
She had plenty to say to him this time around.
24
Sam had spent Saturday afternoon at Cartwheel Cottage with Luke, Katy, their two children and Pip the dog. They’d planned to eat lunch outside, but it had turned pretty nippy, so they’d ended up indoors, eating Luke’s famous hot dogs with lots of fried onions and ketchup, followed by Katy’s far more elegant baked cheesecake.
