Couldnt Wait
Im filing for divorce, Grace announced calmly, passing her husband a mug of tea. In fact, I already have.
She said it so matter-of-factly, as if she were merely mentioning, Were having roast chicken for dinner tonight.
May I ask what on Well, never mind, not in front of the children, Martin lowered his voice, seeing the worried, round faces of their sons. What have I done wrong, Grace? And thats not even counting that the boys need their father.
You really think I couldnt find them another one? Grace rolled her eyes extravagantly, a smirk playing at her lips. Whats wrong, you ask? Everything! I thought married life with you would be like a quiet English lake not a raging torrent!
So, lads, have you finished eating? Martin didnt want to keep arguing in front of the boys. Off you go play in the lounge, and no eavesdropping! he called out after them, knowing full well their restless curiosity. Now, lets carry on.
Grace pursed her lips in annoyance. Even now, hes playing the man of the house! Father of the year, he thinks.
Im tired of this. I dont want to spend eight hours a day at the office, grinning at colleagues, pretending to care about clients I want to sleep in, browse the boutiques along Oxford Street, and book myself into spas. You cant give me that. Ive given you the best ten years of my lifeenough!
Must we have all this melodrama? Martin interrupted dryly. Werent you the one who chased after me all those years ago? It wasnt even my idea to rush into marriage.
Mistakes happen to anyone.
The divorce slid by quietly and swiftly. With no small amount of reluctance, Martin agreed the boys would stay with Grace, so long as they spent every weekend and holiday with him. Grace agreed easily.
Half a year later, Martin introduced his sons to his new wife, cheerful and radiant Emily. She instantly won the boys over, and they became giddy with anticipation each week much to their mothers irritation.
But what truly gnawed at Grace was that Martin had inherited a tidy sum from some distant uncle, snapped up a lovely country house outside Surrey, and seemed to live rather comfortably. Mind you, he kept his job, paid a modest amount of child support, and insisted on providing the boys with clothes, football kits, and every shiny gadget under the sun. He even monitored those payments!
Why hadnt she waited just six more months? If only Grace could have seen all this coming Shed have played her cards very differently.
Though, perhaps, not all hope was lost?
*************************
How about a cuppa? For old times sake? Grace trilled, twirling a curl of her hair around one slender finger. Her short dress played up her best features, the clever makeup shaving years from her face She really had put her heart and soul into looking irresistible.
Im busy, Martin replied, letting a blank glance drift her way, Have the boys got their things?
Theyre still hunting for something, probably be another ten minutes boys will be boys, you know, she said with a forced, breezy tone, but she kept trying, What if we celebrated New Years together? David and Oliver spent half the day decorating the tree.
We agreed in court that the holidays are mine. Emilys planned a wonderful time for us in a charming snowy village, plenty of sledging and cocoa. All sorted.
But its meant to be a family holiday!
Exactly. Which is why well be spending it as a family. Cause a fuss, and Ill seek full custody.
No sooner had the front door closed behind her ex, with their laughing sons in tow, than Grace, in a fit of rage, smashed the expensive tea set theyd been given for their wedding. Emily that blasted Emily! She always pretended to be thrilled to see the boys, but surely she was counting down the hours until they were packed back off to Grace. Who, if not Grace, knew best how wild and demanding her boys could be?
But Maybe that was just the ticket. Graces mouth curled into a thin smile. Perhaps she hadnt lost just yet. Soon enough, all of Martins lovely wealth would be hers alone
********************
And whats this? Martin raised an eyebrow, eyeing the suitcases at his door.
What dyou mean, what? Theyre Davids and Olivers things. Grace gave one of the heavy suitcases a determined nudge, making it wobble dangerously. Since youve settled down so nicely, its about time I did as well. Only thing is, most men arent exactly lining up to be stepdads. So, the boys will live with you from now on. Ive let Social Services know, just needs the paperwork sorted. Thats your job now. Im off for a little break with a very promising gentleman friend.
Leaving Martin speechless in the doorway, Grace strode towards a waiting taxi. She wondered how the perfect, ever-gracious Emily would cope. A week? Two, at best. Martin would have to choose, and naturally, hed pick the boys. Then hed come crawling back. With every penny in tow.
Two weeks passed. Then a month. Then two. Not a peep from Martin, no desperate phone calls demanding her to fetch the children. The grapevine had it that Emily had never even raised her voice at the boys! How could that be? Those two little imps, suddenly transformed into perfect cherubs? Impossible!
Hows it going with the boys? Worn out yet? Grace couldnt contain herself any longer and dialed Martin.
Theyre splendid no trouble at all, always polite and lending a hand, Martins voice grew noticeably warmer at the mention of the lads. Absolute treasures!
Really? Grace asked in disbelief. They were always turning the house upside down with me
Because raising children takes a bit of effort, Martin snorted in disdain. You were glued to your phone half the time. Oh, and by the way were moving. If youd like, Ill bring the lads round during half-term.
But Theyre my children too!
You handed over all your rights, remember? Martin laughed outright. Call yourself a mother?
And so Grace was left to stew in regret. She hadnt got her husband back (or rather, his money), things fizzled out with the new flame, and now the boys would be even further away. Not that she missed them terribly she rather enjoyed spending every precious minute on herself.
And what of all this? Ten years of waiting, only to bow out just months before a life of luxury
How utterly unfairGrace stared at her reflection in the black screen of her phone, the silence pressing in all around. Once, shed imagined her life as a sparkling whirl of luxury and laughter, always the girl at the center of the champagne fizz. Now there was only an echothe clink of the last teacup, the closing of yet another door.
She poured herself a glass of wine and tried to summon outrage at how wronged she was, but the feeling fizzled before it reached her lips. She thought about the boys, their clumsy hugs and shrill giggles, suddenly so far away they seemed almost like someone elses dream. She wondered, briefly, if Martin and Emily would let her visit, and instantly pushed the thought away. That would mean facing all shed lostby her own hand.
Outside, laughter rang up from the street: young voices, tinged with the energy she used to feel. Grace pressed her forehead to the cold glass of the window. Life, she realized, never paused for regret. It surged on, swift and sure, with or without her applause.
She straightened, smoothing her dress, catching glimpses of the woman she used to be in every polished surface. Maybe, someday, shed find new meaning, even joy, somewhere beyond Oxford Streets shimmer. But not tonight.
Tonight, the only company she had was the memory of a family shed mistaken for a burdenone that turned out to be the price of freedom, or perhaps the cost of never having known what freedom truly was. As the last of the daylight drained away, Grace finally lifted her glass, as if making a silent toast to all she couldnt reclaimand took a long, bitter sip as the city lights flickered on, one by one, somewhere out of reach.
