Natalie was preparing dinner when there was a knock at the door.
“Thats odd,” she thought. “We have a doorbell, and all our friends know that.” She opened the door to find a stranger, a woman roughly her own age, looking at her curiously.
“Good afternoon! Are you Natalie?” the unexpected visitor asked.
“Yes, I am. And you are? I dont believe weve met.”
“No, we havent. Im a close friend of your husbands.”
“Olivers?”
“Ollies,” the woman corrected.
“Oh, is that so? Im not surprised you call him that. Ive grown used to it. Though, honestly, no ones ever just shown up like this beforeusually they call first. What should I call you?”
“My names Harriet. The thing is well”
“Oh, dont worry, Harriet. Are you and my husband in love? Am I standing in the way of your happiness?”
“How did you guess?”
“I wont lieyoure not the first to tell me this. But Im not keeping him here. Take him today if you want. What did he tell you? That our children are young and he cant leave them?”
“No, nothing like that. I know your boys are grownuniversity students.”
“Then what? That Im ill and hes too honourable to abandon me? As you can see, Im perfectly healthy.”
“No, he didnt say that either.”
“What other excuses could there be? That hed lose his job if he divorced me? Hes lying. His boss couldnt care less about his employees marital problems.”
“No, youve got it all wrong. He said he said we just had to wait until until your father passes away.”
Natalie froze. Her father wasnt even seventy yethe took excellent care of himself, rarely fell ill, and had no plans to leave this world anytime soon.
“You must be mistaken.”
“No, Im not. Oliver said as soon as Arthur Fitzgerald departs this life, hell leave you.”
“And why not sooner? Did he say hes afraid of my father? Because trust me, Dad wont do anything to stop him.”
“No, Oliver respects your father very much. But he said once hes gone, youll move into his flat.”
“His flat? How dare he! My fathers in excellent healthI expect him to live many more years. And Im not moving out of this house! Its my pre-marital property, and Ive no intention of handing it over.”
“But thats not what he told me! He said the house would go to him, and youd take the cottage, the car, and the garage.”
“Is that so? Interesting. Then why didnt you wait for that to happen before coming here today?”
“Well Im not getting any younger, and I want to enjoy my happiness while I can. I dont care if my beloved has a house or notwe can live at mine.”
“Thats very sensible. So what do you want from me?”
“Just just let Oliver go. Thats all.”
“Take him.”
“What?”
“Im not keeping him. I never did, though Ill admitI loved him once, believed hed settle down, then foolishly thought the children needed their father. Lately, I hadnt noticed anything suspicious and thought his wandering days were over. Clearly, I was wrong.”
“Very wrong. So youll really let him go? Honestly?”
“Of course. You can even take his things now if you like.”
“Oh no, I couldnt carry them. Oliver can fetch them himself when hes ready. Just promise youll release him.”
“Dont worryhell be free by tonight! In fact, Ill file for divorce tomorrow and split everything fairly. Though I wont promise him the houseit was my grandmothers, and my parents paid for the renovations. Dad kept all the receipts; hes very meticulous. But dont worryyouve got your own place.”
“Yes, Oliver wont be homeless.”
“Im not concerned. Hes always landed on his feet.”
“Goodbye, Natalie.”
“Farewell, Harriet. Lets hope we never meet again.”
Harriet left, and Natalie began packing Olivers things. She had no intention of arguingshe knew exactly how to make him leave on his own. Hed think he could come back anytime, as he always had before but not this time.
“To think hed stoop so low Waiting for my father to die so he could take my home. Hes grown far too boldand its my fault. I turned a blind eye for years, and now he thinks he can do as he pleases. Well, no more. Off you go, Oliver dear, to your Harriet. Live long and” she thought, carefully folding his clothes into suitcases.
When Oliver returned from work, he noticed nothing unusualexcept that his wife refused to eat with him. But he didnt mind. After a hearty meal, he planned to go for his usual “evening stroll” and return as if nothing had happened.
“Darling, thanks for dinner. Think Ill take a walk.”
“Of course, love. At your age, evening strolls are very healthy.”
“What do you mean, at my age?” Oliver bristledhe still considered himself a man in his prime.
“Well, youre over fifty now. Not exactly young.”
“What? Im stillI could outpace any”
“Dear, who are you trying to convince? Id know better than anyone, wouldnt I?”
“Natalie, watch your tongue. Or else”
“Or else what? Youve put on weight, your hairs gone grey”
“What weight? What grey hair? Youre talking nonsense! Im still young!”
“Really? Doubtful. Face the truth, darling. Youre getting olderjust like me.”
“Youre not exactly blooming either. But I still look goodwomen notice.”
“Do they? Lately, even strangers offer you their seat on the bus. Remember? You told me yourself.”
“When did that happen?”
“I remember. Girls keep saying, Here, sir, take my seatyou must be tired.”
“Thats rubbish!”
“Is it? Memory lapses too? At your age, walks are goodbut you might need pills soon.”
“Youre mocking me! Im stillI could show any young man a thing or two!”
“Could you? Doubtful. We havent shared a bedroom in years.”
“So?”
“Just saying performance issues are common at your age. Unlike Peterhes your age, and hes doing splendidly. Lately, he keeps telling me how much he misses me.”
“Whos Peter?”
“When you moved to the spare room, I thought, Well, if hes lost interest, Ill find someone who hasnt. So I met Peter.”
“What age? What Peter? What are you on about?”
“Oh dear, its worse than I thought. Youve been absent as a husband for a yearjust a housemate, really. But I dont need that. Still, I feel sorry for you. Go for your walk, clear your head, and well decide what to do next.”
“You feel sorry for me? Me? Ill have you know”
“I dont want to know. Werent you going for a walk?”
“Natalie, Im leaving. A woman who thinks Im old has no place beside me! Pack my thingsdont expect forgiveness. I mightve overlooked this Peter, but pity? Never.”
“Darling, your bags are already packed. Call if I missed anything. Off you go. And dont expect my father to drop dead anytime soon.”
“Whats that got to do with anything?”
“Nothing, just making conversation. Go on, dear. I trust you wont contest the divorce?”
“Contest? Ha! But dont think youre keeping everything.”
“Oh, I wouldnt dream of insulting a man who cant even remember”
“Natalie”
“that this house was never his. You lived here for twenty-five yearshow lucky for you! Renovations paid for by my parents, holidays timed so youd return when the work was done. Dad kept all the contracts and receipts. You cant claim any improvements were your doing.”
“Is that so? I thought”
“Thought wrong. No fools here. There was one fool, but shes wiser now. Go, darling. The courts will give you what youre owedthen off you go, into a new life where youre valued, respected, and considered young and virile.”
Oliver snatched a suitcase and stormed out, hurrying to Harriet, whod been waiting eagerly.
