Page 6 of My Husband’s Wife

Five

As I put the plates in the dishwasher, I keep thinking about whether to call Mum back but I can’t face speaking with her now. I post a photo of our lovely view on Instagram, instead.

‘Mum, can I have some ice cream now?’

I flinch and drop a plastic cup onto the tiles, where it bounces and hits the kick board.

‘You made me jump.’ I snatch the cup and pop it in the dishwasher.

‘I’ll do you some in a minute.’ I turn around and notice that Zach has left the table.

He was scrolling through his phone last time I saw him. ‘Where’s Zach?’

‘He went up to his office,’ Caiden replies.

I didn’t notice Zach leave the room which is odd. The doorbell chimes. I peel my orange rubber gloves off and drop them on the draining board. Hurrying, I open the door.

‘Nicole.’

She smiles at me, and Aaron stands next to her, holding a Lego car kit.

‘I hope you don’t mind me popping by. I was passing and Aaron kept asking to show Caiden his new Lego. Kids.’ She rolls her walnut brown eyes.

‘Of course not. What a lovely surprise. I said pop by at any time, and thank you for taking Caiden to the café after school the other day when I got stuck in traffic.’

‘That’s what friends are for. If ever you need me to collect him from school, you only have to say. How did the big day at your new job go?’

‘I loved it.’

Nicole pulls out a bottle of wine from her bag. ‘This is for you, for getting through your first day.’

‘That’s so kind, thank you. Come in, take your coat off and I’ll put the kettle on.

’ She doesn’t know how happy I am that someone has come to visit; and my son has already taken Aaron to his room.

‘Zach’s doing some admin and I was just cleaning up.

Come through. Sorry about the mess, we’ve just had dinner. ’

‘It smells lovely in here. Bolognese?’

‘Yep.’

I usher her to the couches, where she sits and admires the sea view.

‘Wow, this view never ceases to amaze me.’

I frown. ‘You’ve been in this house before?’

‘Yes, didn’t Zach tell you? I tidied up the front garden, that’s what I do.

I met Zach in the pub, and he was telling me about the house and all the work he was doing.

He mentioned that the garden was a mess, and we got talking.

Anyway, I got rid of the jungle, added a few shrubs and pots and presto – all tidied up. ’

Zach never mentioned meeting Nicole despite me talking to him about her. I can’t help giving her the once-over. She has this long, wavy brown hair that almost reaches her bottom, and her heart-shaped face is cute.

‘Do you like what I did?’ Nicole asks.

‘Er, I love it.’ I can’t help wondering why this is the first time Nicole has mentioned working on my garden.

‘Great. And I love that our sons are such good friends now. Aaron never stops talking about Caiden.’

‘You’re not from around here originally, are you?’ I ask. She has a hint of London in her accent.

‘I moved from Kent a few years ago.’

‘On your own?’

‘No, I was in a relationship at the time. We both had stressful city jobs and packed it all in for the good life. It was that good he left me and went back to Kent not long after Aaron was born. But I love it here.’ She stares out at a boat bobbing on the waves.

‘Sorry, I said I was making a drink. What would you like?’

‘Gin,’ she says with a smile. ‘Only joking. It’s been a long day and gin helps, but I best have tea because I have to drive home. Do you have an Earl Grey or a Chai?’

I bite my bottom lip. I have one solitary Earl Grey tea bag that Zach nicked from a hotel we stayed at, just in case we needed some emergency tea. I smile at how silly that sounds. ‘Yes. How long have you lived here?’

‘About twelve years. I moved here when I was twenty-five. My husband left two years later.’

‘Does Aaron see his father?’ Why did I ask that? That was personal and I haven’t known Nicole that long.

‘Not often. He has me though, and I love him to bits. How are you getting on?’

I smile and pour the drinks. After handing the tea to her, I sit opposite and hug a cushion with my feet up. ‘I love it here. It’s such a different way of life, a gentler pace. But I am nervous about tomorrow.’

‘What’s happening tomorrow?’

‘I have two new couples booked in at work.’

‘Don’t be. They’ll adore you.’

‘I hope so.’

She sips her tea. ‘Have you spoken with the other parents at the school much?’

I shake my head. ‘I say hellos and we talk about the weather. I was hoping you’d properly introduce me on Saturday at the café. What are they like?’

‘Mostly okay. Christie is a bit of a gossip but nice enough. She is actually cheating on her husband with some mystery man she met on a night out, but keep that one to yourself until she tells you.’ Nicole stifles a giggle.

‘Sonia is so sweet. She cares for her grandmother full time who has dementia. I try to pop in to see them every week because it’s lonely for her.

They’re both coming on Saturday. You’ll love them. ’

My heartbeat is ramping up with the excitement of making more new friends. ‘I can’t wait.’

A rumble of footsteps come down the stairs followed by a barking Freddie. He dives over me and his paws land on the other side of the couch.

‘Mum, can we both have ice cream?’ Caiden asks.

I nod. ‘If that’s okay?’

‘Of course, that would be lovely,’ Nicole replies.

I scoop some chocolate ice cream into a couple of bowls and seat the children on the stools before heading back over to the couch. ‘That should keep them happy for five minutes.’

‘Thank you. It’s really kind of you to give Aaron some.’

‘Nonsense. I love that our boys are the best of friends.’

‘Which gives mummies more time to enjoy a bit of peace and a cup of tea.’

‘Precisely. Here’s to tea and sanity.’ I hold my cup up and clank it on hers.

‘Cheers to that.’

I hear another set of footsteps coming down the stairs, and Zach enters, yawning. ‘Hello CaiMan.’ He ruffles Caiden’s hair. ‘Who’s your friend?’

‘This is Aaron. He’s from school and we’ve been trying to make his Lego car.’

Nicole clutches her cup and remains with her back to my husband. I wave him over. ‘Zach, look who’s come to visit.’ I don’t need to introduce them if he hired her to fix our garden.

My husband’s smile instantly drops. He doesn’t even say hello to her. ‘I err…I think I left the computer on.’ He points upwards and makes a hasty retreat.

I glance at Nicole, and her cup shatters on the floor. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to…I really should go, I have so much to do still. Aaron, grab your things.’ There’s a sense of panic behind her eyes.

‘But I’m eating my ice cream, Mum.’ Aaron quicky shovels down the last few mouthfuls before Nicole drags him towards the front door.

Before I know it, Nicole has marched Aaron out to her van and they’ve gone.

I don’t know what just happened. For some reason Zach did not want to see Nicole, and she couldn’t leave our house fast enough. I need to confront him over this. Now.