Page 35 of The Second Chance Supper Club

His own hurts were evident, however, as he admitted, ‘It’s been hard for me too, Mum. It was tough being away, wondering what the hell was going on back home … and then when Dad told me the house had bloody well sold, and there was no home any more…’ Adam had sounded kind of lost then.

It was upsetting for Cath to see him so down, that rawness revealed. It was the whole family that had been ripped apart … not just her and Trevor. She’d never felt it was that simple, but hearing it from Adam himself, and that he hadn’t felt able to share this before, made her feel so terribly sad.

Once that confession was out, however, they’d opened up some more, and he’d looked on the whole situation with a big pinch of reality. Though the outcome would affect him majorly either way, in the end, Adam agreed that the only decision to be made was hers. He wanted his mum to be happy.

Now, she needed that honest talk with her husband. After getting through that – with a large glass of something to hand – and finally settling on her plans for the future, it would be great to have something sociable with her village friends to look forward to this weekend.

Time to make that call. Adam was in the house, so she took her phone plus a large gin and tonic up to the summerhouse shed. The chance to go back … be a family, was still in her mind. Her decision would affect them all. It wasn’t one to take lightly, but she knew in her heart it was the right one.

This seemed the perfect spot to break the news. The place she’d spent so long doing up. It symbolised her new start, and had nurtured new friendships. All this was far too precious to let go. But would Trevor be staying here with her for holidays from now on, or was it hers and hers alone?

The dialling tone; ringing once, twice … big sip of gin … three times, and then it was picked up.

‘Hello, there. Hi, Cath.’ Trev sounded chirpy.

‘Hi …’ Her voice came out higher than normal. This was harder than she’d imagined. She knew what it felt like to have all your hopes and dreams trashed, after all. And this was yet another reason why the answer was so clear.

‘Good to hear from you. You okay?’

‘Yes … thank you. Trevor, I’ve had a chance to think.

’ She had to get this over with. Now was not the time for chit-chat and pleasantries.

‘Trev, I’d love to have been able to make things right, to go back to how we once were …

but that’s just a pipe dream. It won’t ever be the same.

For me, at least, it won’t ever feel right.

You’ve changed, and so have I. I like my new life and my new home.

I’m ready for a fresh start, on my own .

’ She let the words sink in. There was silence down the line.

‘I’m sorry if hearing that hurts but …’ She stopped herself from saying more.

Don’t rub it in … don’t say you did that to me and far more.

Revenge wasn’t always so sweet, though it was damn tempting.

‘But, hey …’ her voice softened, ‘Trev, this is where we stop hurting each other from now on. This is where we move on.’

‘Oh … ri-ight.’

She could tell he was struggling to speak, and she wasn’t sure what else to say either. A few seconds of uneasy silence widened the gap between them.

‘It was worth a try, I suppose,’ he said after a while, trying to sound matter-of-fact but his tone was anything but.

‘Better than to regret never having asked at all.’ He took a slow breath.

‘And Cath, whatever happens from here on, I will always be here for you and Adam. It’s what you’ve always deserved. ’

Whoa. This was harder than she’d expected. ‘Thank you.’ And despite knowing she’d done exactly the right thing, Cath still felt the weight of mixed emotions, a gutful of relief at having been honest, laced with guilt and nostalgia, but no regrets … not now.

‘Keep in touch, yeah?’ Trevor continued bravely.

‘Of course. You too.’

‘Bye.’ The word sounded small, sad.

‘Bye, Trevor.’

And despite her strength and her sound decision, she couldn’t help having a good cry as she turned off the phone. Grappling for a tissue in her pocket, she’d wait a few minutes before heading back down to the house.

She sat, gathering her emotions, as she looked out over her garden, where Adam had actually taken the time to stripe the grass, and she saw the bold summer flowers were bursting into bloom.

‘Have you told him? That you’re not going back?’

He’d guessed right. Adam was there in the kitchen waiting, with a big mug of tea made for her, as she got back in from the garden shed ten minutes later.

Cath nodded, unsure as to how her voice would come out.

She popped her empty gin glass down on the side. ‘Well, that’s good.’ He passed her the mug.

‘Thanks.’ Feeling suddenly exhausted, she took up a seat at the dining table, Adam following suit.

‘I’ve been worried about you … and Dad,’ he confessed. ‘Wondering what next for you both.’

‘Oh, Adam …’ She placed her hand over his. ‘I’m so sorry, about everything.’

She tightened her grip on the mug, soon she’d find the right words to explain her decision, but for now it was important to let her son speak.

‘When I was away, I really thought that it’d be the best thing …

you two getting back together. This fling of Dad’s to just fizzle out, and us all to get back to normal …

like it was. But since coming here … seeing you here, making friends, finding a new life …

I can see you’re happy, Mum. Happier than I’ve seen you in such a long time. ’

‘Oh …’ She hadn’t expected that from him. Tears misted her eyes.

‘Dad’ll be feeling pretty shite, I bet, after all the crap he’s caused.

But that’s no reason to fall in with it all.

’ Adam paused to look at her. ‘I’m glad you’ve told him that you’re not going back.

Well done, Mum. Well done for sticking up for yourself.

’ ‘Oh, Adam … but what about you? What’s next for you? ’

They were both a bit teary-eyed by now.

‘I’ll be okay. I’ve got my whole life ahead of me … plenty of new adventures to crack on with.’

‘But do you think this could be your home, your new base?’ Even with the mess, and the noise, she’d give this to him, her heart and her home, to make her son feel safe and secure once more. That was how it should be.

‘It’s cool for now, cheers, Mum. But hey, I’ve no real plans yet. Gonna see where life takes me, I suppose.’ He gave a small smile.

‘And you’re sure you’re okay? You will talk to me, Adam, if there’s ever anything …’ She hated to think he’d been keeping everything inside until last night, feeling he had to hide his feelings to protect her, too.

But then she suddenly realised, maybe that just meant he was growing up, that he was taking responsibility.

‘Let’s just say we’ll look out for each other, hey,’ said Adam wisely.

‘Yeah … and Dad too.’ Cath found she couldn’t hold on to the hate any longer.

‘Yep, and Dad too.’

Old team, new programme.