The second wives club, p.31
The Second Wives Club, page 31
Susan nodded. “Yes I’ve spoken to her quite a few times. I was ringing her up every day, but she got annoyed with me and said I didn’t need to keep checking up on her. She said it made her feel old, like I was on death watch.”
Fiona raised her eyes. “So I take it that heartbreak hasn’t dulled her acid tongue then?”
“No, in fact, she sounds like her old self. Remarkable, really. I can only assume she’s been shedding her tears in private.”
“Have you actually seen her?” Fiona looked up from the menu.
“No. She was away for a while, and now she seems to have thrown herself back into promotional work. So she’s not exactly been sitting at home staring at the wallpaper.” She pointed at the door. “Ah, here she is now…oh, my goodness!”
It was definitely Julia standing before them, because the eyes and the stunning smile were the same, as was the long, lithe body and full breasts. But the rest of her was very different.
Her face was devoid of makeup, and her hair, although still sleek and shiny, was combed back into a ponytail. She was wearing a pair of faded Levi’s, a faded red T-shirt with WHEN YOUR IQ GETS TO 80, SELL! on the front, and a pair of white Nikes. A casual outfit she wouldn’t have been caught dead in even a month ago.
“Wow, you look fantastic!” said Fiona, and she meant it too. “You look about ten years younger.”
Susan was staring at her open-mouthed. “I’m sorry, you can’t sit there. My old friend Julia is coming. She’s very glamorous, you know, with lots of designer clothes and paint-by-number makeup.”
“Really? She sounds positively ghastly,” Julia drawled, sitting down.
“Seriously, though,” added Susan, “are you okay?”
“If by that you mean has my husband betraying me with his ex-wife turned me into an unattractive drudge, the answer is no. I’ve just learned that there’s more to life than looking perfect all the time, that’s all.” She sighed. “So at least I got something out of my marriage.”
“Imperfection is quite an art form too, you know.” Susan glanced down at her scruffy sweatshirt top, straining at the seams. She smiled sadly. “So it’s definitely over then?”
“Oh, yes. Siring a child with your ex-wife is a step too far, don’t you think?” she answered breezily.
Fiona nodded. “Well, it would certainly be the end for me.”
“I mean, even poor old Jerry Hall couldn’t hack it,” continued Julia. “All those years of putting up with Mick behaving like one of those oversexed dogs that shags people’s legs and even she threw in the towel when he got one of his mistresses pregnant.”
“Have you seen James?” asked Alison quietly.
“Yes. He rang me probably a hundred times while I was staying in Positano…paid for by him, of course!” She paused and smiled quickly at the thought. “In the end, I agreed to meet him on the proviso that he stop calling. And besides, I wanted to keep the breakup as amicable as possible. I know it’s hard to believe, but I really don’t bear him any ill will. I just think he’s rather pathetic.”
“So how did the meeting go?” Susan shifted in her seat and winced slightly, feeling a twinge in her abdomen.
“It was interesting.” Julia’s tone was matter-of-fact. “I seriously think he thought I’d go back to him, that I couldn’t live without him.” She pursed her lips. “But I told him in no uncertain terms that it was over.”
“What, just like that?” As someone who would have taken at least six months of to-ing and fro-ing to come to a similar decision, Susan was skeptical.
“Yes, just like that.” Julia shrugged. “Not much more to say, really, is there? The bottom line is that I wasn’t keen to have a child of my own, so the chances of me loving one that isn’t mine are pretty remote…”
“Hey, don’t knock it,” Susan chided. “It can be fantastic, you know.”
“I’m sure.” Julia laid a reassuring hand on her forearm. “But even with the best will in the world, you and I are two completely different people.” She moved her hand across to touch Susan’s swollen stomach. “Which is why you’re expecting the baby you’ve always wanted, and I’m not.”
She sighed theatrically. “I have absolutely no idea why I don’t have a maternal bone in my body, I just don’t. And I could analyze myself into oblivion over it, but the end result would still be the same, so what’s the point? If that makes me an oddity, then so be it.”
Fiona smiled warmly. “It doesn’t make you an oddity. I think you’re very brave to come out and say it, because it does go against everything we’re brought up to believe.”
“It would be easier if I couldn’t have children,” Julia went on. “Then, when anyone asked, I could say, ‘Actually, I have been trying for ten years, but I only have one ovary after a childhood accident,’ or something like that. That would shut them up.” She shrugged. “I might say it anyway, just for the hell of it.”
Alison’s brow furrowed. “Believe me, it’s not easier,” she muttered. “I’d rather not want children than want them and be unable to have them.”
For once, Julia looked genuinely concerned. “Darling, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so insensitive.” She sighed. “Anyway, as I said, it’s over. I’m going for a quickie divorce, and then James is free to do as he pleases.”
“So you’re going to have that lovely big house all to yourself?” Susan smiled wistfully.
“No, I’ve said he can keep it. I’ve rented myself a little chichi flat, and all I want is a small cash sum to tide me over for a couple of years until I find my feet again.” She blew a piece of stray hair away from her eyes. “I’m going to set up my own PR agency, hiring out temporary staff to companies for big events. I know the business inside out, so it seems an obvious thing to do.”
“Wow.” Fiona raised her eyebrows. “You sound really together. And you’re really not going to punish James financially?”
Julia shook her head. “Nope. Though clearly you’re surprised by that?”
Her tone wasn’t aggressive, but Fiona felt the need to backtrack. “No, not at all. Seriously, I didn’t mean it like that.”
Julia waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. James was clearly surprised too, so I must come across as a right gold-digger.”
The other three shook their heads, somewhat unconvincingly.
“I may have happily spent his money when we were together,” she continued, “but I don’t see that two years of a childless marriage entitles me to screw him…even if he did screw his ex-wife.”
“Commendable.” Susan raised her glass.
“Contrary to what you all may think, I’m really not a vengeful person…unless, of course, someone gets to a pair of Jimmy Choos before I do.” She smiled at them all.
“So what do you think James will do?” asked Susan. “He must be devastated to lose you.”
“So he says. But he’ll get over it. After all, he wasn’t thinking too much about me when he was conceiving Daniel, was he?”
“Daniel,” mused Alison. “What a lovely name.”
Julia looked at the other two and raised her eyes heavenward. “I suspect that as soon as it dawns on him that I really am pressing ahead with the divorce, he’ll be back with Deborah before you can say ‘Treacherous bastard.’ Well, fuck it, they deserve each other.”
Fiona’s eyes bulged. “Do you really think he’ll go back to her?”
“I’d bet my entire wardrobe on it. Which, as you all know, is some wager.” She took a sip of wine. “He’ll be rattling around that big house, opening the fridge, and—shock, horror—finding it empty, and she’ll start spending more time there, mothering him, and making sure all his needs are met…and before you know it, she’ll move in permanently.”
She leaned back in her chair with an air of finality. “It’s funny, but when we had that one and only lunch together, she actually said she hoped to get him back.”
Susan practically choked on her breadstick. “You never told us that bit!”
“I forgot all about it, to be honest, because I just didn’t take it seriously.” Julia shrugged. “But all credit to her, she’s pulled it off.”
Fiona looked at her in bemused disbelief, like a young child viewing her mother’s radical new haircut. “I can’t believe you’re being so chipper about it. I’d be in pieces.”
“Oh, believe me, I spent the first week just sobbing my eyes out, and the second one wasn’t much better either.” She smiled slightly, but her eyes looked sad. “But however shitty I felt, I knew I would eventually feel stronger and that it was better than staying with such a weak man. Deborah may think she’s won, but her prize…,” she made quote marks with her fingers, “…is a man who’s always chasing the chase. He cheated on not just one but two marriages, so I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in any vows he makes. He might not actually leave her again, but he’ll sure as hell be unfaithful.”
Fiona thought of something and made a spluttering noise before swallowing her mouthful of wine to say her piece. “Maybe you could become a thorn in her side again! That would be a delicious irony.”
Julia smiled benevolently. “It would indeed, and believe me, it has crossed my mind. It would be very easy for me to tempt James into my bed occasionally on his way back home to Deborah…just like the old days.” She paused a moment. “But why bother? I don’t want him, so it would be a waste of time and effort merely to get revenge on her. And the way I see it, we’re quits right now, so we should leave it that way.”
They all absorbed what she’d said for a moment or two, then Fiona looked around at the other three. “Well, all that makes my little drama sound ludicrously overblown.”
“Ah, yes, how is the teenager from hell?” asked Julia.
“Heavenly, believe it or not. And he’s doing really well at school again, so he’s back on track to go to college. And probably a pretty good one, at that.”
“What an amazing turnaround,” marveled Susan. “Especially when you think about how easily he could have gone the other way.”
“I know.” Fiona leaned forward and rapped her knuckles on the wooden table for luck. “And according to David, the other day Jake even argued with his mother about me. Apparently the old cow said something derogatory, and he sprang to my defense. Wonders will never cease!”
“Does his mom know about the drugs thing?” Alison asked.
Fiona shook her head. “No. David thought long and hard about it, but then agreed with Jake not to say anything as long as he stayed on the straight and narrow.”
“Which is pretty much what you agreed with Jake when you decided not to tell your overreactionary husband,” Julia scoffed.
“I know.” She smiled. “David sees that now. But don’t forget, I’m not one of Jake’s natural parents, so with hindsight I do think I was wrong not to say anything.”
She topped off her and Julia’s wineglasses. “Still, it’s all water under the bridge now, and David and I are getting on better than ever before. In fact, we’re going to start trying for another baby in the next couple of months.”
“You can have this one if you like.” Susan placed her palms on either side of her swollen belly and grimaced. “God, it’s uncomfortable. The little devil is doing somersaults.”
“Have you and Nick decided on any names yet?” asked Alison.
“Well, he’s convinced it’s a girl, so he likes Sophie or Emma.” She paused a moment and studied their faces. “But I couldn’t bear the suspense and forked out for one of those tests the other day…and it’s a boy!”
Fiona gasped. “Oh, God, that’s perfect! It’s just what you wanted. That way, Ellie will still be Daddy’s little girl.”
“Exactly.” Susan beamed.
“And does Daddy know?” inquired Julia.
“No. He’s always said he wants it to be a surprise, so I haven’t told him. But I know he’ll be thrilled to bits.”
“And is he still in perfect husband mode?” Julia added. “Because, as we all know, these boys say they’ve changed, but they sometimes drift back to their old ways.”
“No, so far so good. He’s given the oil painting of Caitlin to her parents and put a lot of the photos away. There are still a few in Ellie’s room and one under a pile of stuff on the kitchen message board, but that’s it. He’s really making an effort to move forward.”
“That’s great,” said Fiona. “But what about Caitlin’s parents?”
Susan shook her head in happy amazement. “Actually, they’ve been completely marvelous, and I never thought I’d hear myself say that. Ellie goes to stay there a lot, and Genevieve has even said to me that when the new baby is a little bit older, they’ll be happy to have him stay over too so I can have a break.”
She noticed Julia’s expression of surprise. “I know, it’s quite a turnaround. But Genevieve and I have been having some good heart-to-hearts recently, and we’ve talked quite a bit about my childhood and losing my mum. Since then she seems to have taken me under her wing.”
Julia grimaced. “Isn’t that a bit nauseating?”
“No, surprisingly, not at all. It’s quite nice, actually. Don’t forget, they live out in the country, so she’s not in my face the whole time. She sent us a card to congratulate us on our engagement, and she’s even knitting for the new baby!”
“Fuck, so I’m the only sad sack here then?” said Julia with her inimitable succinctness. “Fiona’s nightmare stepson has turned into a choirboy, Susan’s nightmare in-laws have become chocolate-box perfect…,” she turned and looked at Alison, “…and I suppose you’re about to tell us that such is his miraculous change of heart that Luca is now setting up his own IVF clinic to help others.”
Alison smiled sadly. “No, quite the opposite, in fact.”
Susan patted her on the back. “Is he still being pigheaded?”
She nodded. “The hormones don’t seem to be having an effect, and every time I instigate sex he goes all peculiar and says it’s only because I’m trying to get pregnant…”
She was interrupted by a loud snorting noise from Julia.
“Men are bloody priceless, aren’t they? When you were on the pill and instigated sex, he probably thought he’d died and gone to heaven, yet now you’re trying for a baby he gets all particular about it. What a wanker.”
“Julia!” chided Susan. “That’s Alison’s husband you’re talking about. Whatever his issues, she loves him.”
“No, she’s right. He is a wanker.” Alison’s words were greeted with a shocked silence from the others. “Yes, I do love him, but, well…I know this is going to come as a surprise, but I’ve come to the conclusion that he doesn’t love me. At least, not enough anyway.”
“What do you mean?” Fiona looked concerned. “Of course he loves you. He’s just being a bit of a macho prat, that’s all. And, God knows, they’re all capable of that from time to time.”
“Yes, they are. But it’s more than that.” Alison’s eyes filled with tears, and she struggled to contain herself. “To tell you the truth, I’ve had sore misgivings for a long time.”
“You should get ointment for that,” quipped Julia, recoiling slightly as Fiona silently made a zipping motion across her mouth and glared at her. But Alison didn’t notice. “I’ve been burying my true feelings, desperate to hang in there,” she continued. “It’s hard enough facing up to the fact that your marriage might not be working, but when you actually dragged your husband away from his first wife, there’s an even greater pressure not to admit failure.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Julia nodded. “I was so pathetically grateful that James had left his wife for me that I felt I owed him and became almost geishalike.”
Alison blew her nose on a paper napkin. “But admit failure I must. Luca’s attitude toward my infertility hasn’t helped matters, but the bottom line is that I just don’t have the energy to fight Sofia anymore. She’s won.”
She started to sob quietly, and Fiona reached across to grab her hand and squeeze it. “What do you mean, she’s won?” she asked.
“I mean she can have him. I give up.”
Susan pulled a “what to do?” face at the others over the top of Alison’s bowed head. “Darling, you can’t give up now,” she murmured. “Not after everything you’ve been through. It’ll all turn out okay in the end, you’ll see. You’re just having a bad patch. It happens to all of us.”
“And don’t forget those pills will be making you feel more hormonal than usual,” added Fiona. “It’s not a good time to make any life-changing decisions.”
“Yes, it is.” Alison lifted her head and straightened her back as a sign of resolve. “Particularly if the decision changes your life for the better, as I think mine will.”
“So what is the decision, exactly?” Julia looked confused.
“It’s over. I told him last night.”
The other three stared at her for a couple of seconds, their faces registering disbelief. Then Fiona spoke. “So, hang on a minute. All the time we’ve been sitting here…with me banging on about Jake and Susan talking about Caitlin’s parents…you were sitting here with this bombshell news and didn’t say anything?”
Alison nodded miserably.
“Why on earth not?” asked Susan.
“Because I didn’t want it to dominate our lunch,” she replied quietly. “I wanted to hear all your news first. You know, normal stuff, just to remind me that some people have happy lives.”
“Oh, yes, my husband shagged his ex-wife and got her pregnant. My life is just your average bundle of laughs,” scoffed Julia.
“I was about to say that you were the exception,” Alison replied, her quick smile not quite reaching her eyes.
“So tell us about last night.” Fiona’s face was etched with concern.
She shrugged slightly. “It was surprisingly calm, actually. I just told Luca what I have been feeling for a long time…that we would never shake off the specter of Sofia, that I would never be able to have a proper relationship with his sons because of their mother’s hate for me, and that, of course, meant there was always going to be a huge area of his life that I was excluded from. He has made it abundantly clear over and over again that his sons come first and that he won’t take a hard line with Sofia since she has the power to take them away. I said it made our marriage virtually untenable.”
