JUST IN CASE
Claire glanced at her sobbing colleague, turned indifferently back to her computer, and started typing away furiously.
“Honestly, Claire, you’re completely heartless,” she heard Julia, their head of department, say.
“Me? Whys that, then?”
“Just because everythings hunky-dory in your own life, doesnt mean its all roses for the rest of us. Look at hershes in pieces, and you cant even be bothered to offer a bit of sympathy, maybe some advice, share a little of your happily ever after. Seeing as youre so content, after all.”
“Me? Share advice? With her? I doubt our dear Sophie would like that much. I did try, about five years ago, if you rememberwell, you werent here thenwhen shed turn up to work with black eyes, said it was because it was dark out and easier to spot the kerb. And no, it wasnt her fella hitting her, she was clumsykept tripping over. After he legged it into the sunset, the bruises on her face stopped too, he was the third to do a runner. Thats when I tried to show a bit of support, pass on some wisdom, as it were. Like I was suddenly the villain for ityep.”
“Later, the others explained it was pointlessSophie always knows best. Id apparently ruined her happiness, played the evil homewrecker. Back then she was off to fortune tellers and daft love charms. Now shes all modern, goes to therapy. Works through her trauma, you know.”
“She doesnt see shes just repeating the same old pattern, just changing the blokes names. So pardon me if I dont rush over with tissues and tea this time.”
“Thats no excuse though, Claire,” Julia said.
At lunch, everyone was around one table, and talk was all about Sophies exthe scoundrel and liar. Claire chewed in silence, then poured herself a coffee and retreated to a quiet corner to scroll through her phone and clear her head.
“Claire!” called bubbly, cheerful Amy, dropping into the next chair. Even she, who was usually all laughs, looked gloomy for once. “Dont you feel even a bit sorry for Sophie?”
“Amy, what do you want from me?”
“Oh, leave her be,” piped up Sarah, passing by. “Shes always like thisshes got her darling George, lives like the queen, wouldnt know what its like to be suddenly left on your own with a kid, no help from anywhere. Good luck trying to get child support off that waste of space.”
“No one forced her to have a baby, did she? Let alone when you dont know who the father is, and at her age too,” chimed in old Mrs Taylor, the most senior of the lotknown as Nan Taylor to the girls. “Claires right: Sophies been crying for yearshe made her life miserable when she was pregnant, and before that, well, dont get me started…”
The women clustered around the weeping Sophie, each offering advice.
Meanwhile, Sophie decided shed had enough of being a damsel in distress. Her mum was summoned from the countryside to help with her son and the thankless ex, and Sophie started picking herself up. She got a fringe cut, had her eyebrows tattooed, glued on some lashes, even wanted to get a nose ring, though the entire office talked her out of it. Then she was off and running.
“Dont worry, Sophie,” her friends cheered, “hell come crawling back, hell be the one crying soon.”
Claire, sitting apart, muttered, “No, he wont come back. He wont shed a tear. Sophiell find another just like him soon enough.”
“Easy for you to judgeyouve got George,” someone objected.
“George isnt like that, is he?”
“Not like that… My George is the gold standarddoesnt hit me, doesnt chase after other women, loves me to bits.”
“Oh, reallypull the other one, theyre all the same.”
“Watch out, Claire, someone might steal him yet.”
“Not a chance. He wouldnt fall for it.”
“I wouldnt be so sure.”
“Well, I am.”
The wine had started flowing, and the girls were soon arguing like a pack of wild things.
“Why dont we all go round to yours, see if George can resist all this beauty? Bet youd never invite usafraid one of us might turn his head.”
“Lets do it.”
“Come on, girls! Off to Claires to test Georges loyalty! Nan Taylor, are you coming?”
“No, dears, my Michaels at home. You go on,” Nan Taylor grinned.
So, in a noisy gaggle, they all descended on Claires place, giggling and bustling about her kitchen.
“Right, ladies, lets whip something upGeorge isnt in right now, is he, Claire? Well have it all laid out for him when he comes home.”
“Dont go to too much troublehes not a big eater, and hes fussy anyway. But yes, hell be home soon.”
The girls calmed down a little, the excitement faded, and gradually they remembered things to do at home, saying goodbyes and drifting off. Only Sophie, Julia and Amy stayed behind, drinking tea in Claires cosy kitchen, chatting quietly and feeling awkward as they waited to meet this mysterious George.
Then someone came in.
“George, darling boy, my sweet,” Claire called from the hallway, all gooey.
The other women instantly wilted, feeling awkward as a tall, handsome young man strode into the room.
Oh, so thats the secrether blokes much younger, everyone realised.
“Right then, ladies,” Claire announced, “meet my son, Tom.”
Tom? Their eyes widened. Tom? What do you mean, Tom?
“My son, Tom. Hows George doing, love? Been good today?”
“Yeah, Mum. He just needs to rest, hell be back on his feet tomorrow or the day after. Just dont let him pick at his stitches…”
The women flushed red.
“Weumshould probably go”
“Wait, I havent introduced you to George yet. But shushhes just had his op. Tom and Ellie took him to the vets for neutering while I was at workcouldnt have him spraying the curtains everywhere Come and see.”
There he wasGeorge, a sleepy tabby cat, curled up on his blanket.
The women bolted from the room before they burst out laughing.
“Clairethats a cat!”
“Of course its a cat. Who did you think?”
“Butyour husband”
“Oh, I havent got one of those. As for Georgeyou lot put two and two together and made five. I once mentioned having a wonderful man at home, George, and before I could explain, you were off and running with it, and everyone believed it.”
“I married young, first love and all that, left university early, had Tom. Rough three years, we split. My parents were a huge help. Later, I married again, this time closer to thirty. Lovely chap, full of planswanted an heir and a perfect little girl, Tom could always be sent to military school or parked with my mum Sent him packing to his mum in the end. He never got itnor did his mum, whod raised him with a stepdad but insisted no one wants someone elses child.”
“Tom and I muddled along for ages, just us two. Third time round I was realisticits a buyers market and, lets face it, God loves a trier. Even before we were official, the bloke gave me a black eye out of love, got jealous. Thing is, Toms been doing judo since he was sixId train with him, bit weedy at first, so we practised at home. Picked up some tricks myself, and when this Romeo kicked off, I gave as good as I gotsent him packing. Decided then, enough was enough…”
“Tom grew up, got married, and suddenly it was just me, feeling lonely, so I got myself George. We go to the cinema together, have seaside breaksno strings, no obligations. Sometimes, Ill cook a proper Sunday roast and invite him round. He leaves full and happyno arguments, no giving account of himself, same goes for me.”
“At first, Tom didnt get itasked why we dont live together, me and a man. But why would we? Were adults, creature comforts, set in our ways. Maybe if wed been together from the start, like my brotherthirty years married, never apart, think with one mind just like Mum and Dad. Didnt work out that way for me but why force it just to say Ive got a ring on?”
“No, thanks. George and I get along just fine. Well, dont we, pet? Look at those eyesI told you, stop barking and spraying everywhereyoull lose the bits you want to keep!”
The girls went home thoughtful, Sophie especially so.
But, as it turned out, Sophie couldnt follow Claires lead. Within a month, she was chirping about her new sweetheart, receiving extravagant bouquets at the office. Claire and Nan Taylor both smiled to themselves.
“So, hows your Michael? Hows his paw?” Claire asked Mrs Taylor one afternoon.
“Hes good, love. Stamped on something out walking, but its healed fine now, thank heavenslike a dog, you know, quick recovery. The grandkids reckon I should show him at Crufts, but I think well leave that to otherswere happy as we are. I see Sophies on the up again.”
“Yes, Mrs Taylor, some people get pets, others collect husbands”
“Well, thats life, isnt it? Maybe this one will be the lucky one?”
“Lets hope so”
“What are you two whispering about?” Sophie asked, coming over.
“Just saying, Sophiefingers crossed, itll work out for you this time.”
“Girls, honestly, I know how it looks, but I just cant stand being on my own.”
“Thats your business. No need to justify yourselfeveryones life is different”
“Claire,” Sophie called after her later, as Claire walked to her car, “if youve got any advice on cats, let me know, yeah? Which is betterboy or girl cats?”
“Go on, off you go, youre being waited for If you need to know, just ask” Claire laughed.
“Just in case, you know”
