And they had seemed so perfect. Guess you never know what happens behind closed doors.
She didn’t work, had a nanny to look after her children and still she couldn’t keep her husband happy, that would be the insinuation.
Playground gossip was the least of her worries at the moment but Kate still couldn’t bear the thought of people talking about her and knowing that she was a big, fat, utter failure.
‘Nadia’s messaged,’ she told Erin. ‘She wants to come over for coffee.’
‘That two-faced yummy mummy? No way,’ came her sister’s reply. Erin did not care for Nadia. Her friends were all salt of the earth types who’d lie down in traffic for each other and never seemed to have a nasty thing to say about anyone. ‘Tree huggers’, that’s what Pete had called them, but Kate thought they were just genuinely nice people who had found the elusive secret to life – simply being content with what they had. It was certainly something that Kate hadn’t managed to find.
‘I’ve got to face the vultures sooner or later,’ she told her sister. ‘I can’t hide the fact forever. He’s gone, Erin, and people are going to notice sooner or later.’
‘Yes, but give yourself some time, Kate. Hunker down, get your head straight and make your plan. There’s no rush. Let people find out on your terms.’
She was right of course, but Kate was never any good at saying no to Nadia. So, despite her sister’s advice and her own inner voice screaming at her not to do it, she quickly typed out a reply:
Sure! See you at 2pm x
As soon as she knew Nadia was coming over Erin scarpered, with promises to call Kate later. Nadia arrived bang on time, clutching home-made cupcakes for Lily and a beautiful bunch of flowers that definitely weren’t from a petrol station for Kate. ‘Oh my goodness,’ she gushed, when she saw Lily’s leg propped up by cushions. ‘You poor little thing. Sadie and George are asking after you, they send their love. Everyone misses you at school. You’ll be better before you know it!’
Once Lily had been left to indulge in an age-inappropriate amount of cake, the women went into the kitchen and Nadia turned to Kate, studying her face carefully. ‘You look awful,’ she told her. ‘Is it just Lily, or something else too?’
How does she do it? Kate wondered. No one can be that perceptive. Has she had CCTV secretly installed in our house? Or do I really look that shit? She assessed her options and decided that lying to Nadia was a bad idea. When she eventually found out, she’d be peeved. So, she came clean. ‘Things haven’t been too great between me and Pete recently,’ she admitted. ‘He’s gone away to clear his head and I don’t know if or when he’s coming back. The kids don’t know and it needs to stay that way, okay?’
Nadia stared at her in shock, mouth open, no doubt wondering how soon she could share this most exciting gossip with the other mums. She was probably already deciding which WhatsApp groups to post it to while she was still sitting with Kate. ‘Oh my goodness, Kate, I’m so sorry. I’m completely flabbergasted because I had no idea there were any issues at all. You seemed like such a solid couple, so happy. How long has this been going on for?’
‘If I’m honest, things haven’t been great for a while. I mean, we don’t really argue but we don’t really talk much either, I guess.’ She smiled self-consciously. ‘We’ve kind of just been living our own lives – you know what it’s like when you have kids, you forget each other and everything is about them. You stop taking time for yourselves and your marriage.’
Nadia looked like she wanted to disagree with that statement but then, in fairness to her, thought better of it. Even she knew that now was not the time to divulge the details of all the different ways that she and her husband made time for themselves and each other.
‘It’s just a glitch,’ she assured Kate, proffering a cupcake at her. ‘It happens to lots of couples. Maybe you both need some time to realise how much you love each other. And then your marriage will be better than ever. I know a great marriage counsellor, a good friend of mine had issues,’ she lowered her tone, ‘he was having an affair, you see, someone from work, and said this woman was amazing. Here, let me get you her details, you should call her.’
Kate almost snorted out her coffee. ‘I think both parties need to be present for a marriage counsellor,’ she reminded Nadia. ‘I’m a man down.’
‘Yes I know, but he’ll be back soon, you mark my word. You and the girls, you’re amazing and no man in his right mind would leave that behind. You belong together, I just know it. This isn’t permanent, Kate, remember that. You’ll be making a call to that marriage counsellor to book an appointment before you know it.’
But, although Kate took the number from Nadia and made a show of saving it to her phone, she already knew, despite her sleep-deprived, brain-addled and distressed state, that she wouldn’t be calling any marriage counsellor.
6
Pete
The second time they had sex it was much better. They’d gone straight back to her flat after work, picked up a bottle of wine on the way home and made it through less than half a glass before he was on top of her on the sofa, practically ripping her clothes off. God it was so good to feel desire after all this time. It had lasted longer and he’d made her climax, something which he knew he hadn’t done the first time.
Afterwards, instead of making his excuses and getting out of there as quickly as possible, he’d stayed for a short while, lying on the sofa with his arms wrapped around
