**Betrayal**
Peter raised his hand in farewell:
“Right then, Rosemary, I’m off! Ill transfer the money to Mum, dont fret.”
The door slammed behind him, and Rosemary slumped onto the stool, suddenly bursting into tears.
“Mum, whats wrong?” Her son appeared in the kitchen. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Rosemary was embarrassed by her own weakness. “Just a rubbish mood, darling, and your brothers got on my nerves. John and Christine are at Grans.”
“No,” Daniel said firmly. “People dont sob like that over a bad mood, and you chat with the boys every day. Im not a kid anymore, Mum. I get things.”
Rosemary looked at her sixteen-year-old, already taller than her, and before she could stop herself, blurted out what shed barely admitted in her own head:
“I think your dads about to leave us.” She added, seeing his silent question, “Hes cheating. Almost six months now…”
Daniel froze. Hed expected work stress, a row with a friendbut *Dad*? How? His fists clenched, and his mum noticed.
“Daniel, dont. Grown-up things happenyoull understand one day. Your dads decent, but hearts dont listen, do they?”
Even as she spoke, Rosemary didnt believe her own words. She wanted to scream, smash plates, but instead, she was preaching forgiveness to her son! Meanwhile, Daniels knuckles whitened.
“Let him go then! Well manage. Whys he even here if hes made promises he wont keep?”
“Love, you say youre grown, but youre acting like a child. Everyone messes up, yeah? Your dadll realise this is just a fling. Were his real family”
“Mum,” Daniels voice cracked, suddenly sounding young again, “Whyd he do it? I cant respect him like before.”
“Itll sort itself out,” Rosemary squeezed his hand. “Dont tell your brothers, alright?”
“You either,” Daniel wiped his eyes. “We dont want them doubting their big, invincible brother.”
Rosemary checked the clock.
“Arent you late for practice?”
Daniel jumped up.
“Blimey, I am!”
Alone, Rosemarys calm crumbled. Talking to Daniel had steadied her, but now, the hurt rushed back.
“How could he throw away everything we had?”
When theyd met, Peter was a carefree flirt, always surrounded by “little birds.” When Rosemary refused to be “just another one,” hed said, deadly serious:
“Why another? Youd be the *only* one. For life.”
And shed believed him, the fool. Seventeen years, three kids, vows in “sickness and health”and still, hed strayed.
It started six months ago. Or earlier? Shed missed the signs. At his nephews wedding, Peter went alone (shed insistedfamily mustnt gossip). Later, scrolling photos online, she spotted a woman glued to Peters side. When she mentioned it, hed laughed:
“Who? Oh, the brides mate. No idea why she hovered. Not my type, Rosiejealous, are you?”
Shed believed him; the woman *wasnt* his usual taste.
Then came odd callsheavy breathing, silence. Rosemary joked:
“Even Daniels little birds dont prank this badly!” The calls stoppedbut she didnt connect it to Peter. Not then.
The real clue? Peter, a jeans-and-jumper bloke, suddenly wearing suits, *cologne* instead of that awful 90s aftershave. And the “strategic work project”late nights, weekends “at the office.”
“Once this wraps up,” hed grin, “Well holiday wherever you fancy! That fur coat you wanted, a quad bike for Danworth the wait, yeah?”
Six months of this turned Rosemary into a nervy wreck. Today, after Daniel left, she resolved:
“Ill talk to him. For the boys sake.”
But Peter beat her to it. A call: “Rosie, lets chat. Somewhere… quiet.”
She almost went in gardening clotheswhy dress up? Then changed her mind:
“Let him see what hes losing.”
The cabbie eyed her in the mirror. At drop-off, he said:
“Pretty thing like you, so sad? Chin upitll pass.”
The unexpected kindness lifted her mood. Entering the restaurant, she even smileduntil she saw Peter holding a rose. *A flower for the grave of our marriage?* She almost laughed at her own dramatics.
Over dinner, they chatted trivia. Inside, Rosemary braced for the blow. Finally, she snapped:
“Peter, you said we needed to talk.”
He nodded. “Right. Short version? Howd you feel if we skip the holiday, the fur, the quad bike?”
Her heart clenchedbut Peter ploughed on:
“Got nearly double pay today. ThoughtDans 16 now. Why not invest in a flat for him? By 18, itd be a solid gift. Good plan?”
“A *flat*?” Rosemary gaped. “Since when?”
“Christ, Rosie, youve been miles away! Whats *wrong* with you lately?”
Later, outside, Peter erupted:
“An *affair*? I explained the projectyou never complained! I boasted about my understanding wife, and *this* is your understanding? Slandering me over *nothing*!”
Walking home, Rosemary drank in his rant like angel song. At their doorstep, Peter finally sighed:
“Didnt I say Id found my one and only? Have I *ever* lied to you?”
…Daniels day had gone pear-shaped. Late to training, scolded by the coach, then a row with his mate. Hed roamed the streets, itching for a fightanything to vent. No luck. Coming home, he spotted his parents kissing by the door. His mums coat was unmistakable. Fury surged*after betraying her, he dares?* He stepped forward, fists balled.
“Alright, son?” Peter grinned sheepishly.
“…Nice when things work out, isnt it?”
