That afternoon, Katie was in the park with her children, minding her own business and mentally planning what to have for dinneragainwhen a young, strikingly attractive stranger ambled over.
Hello! Oh goodness, your children are absolutely gorgeous! I do wish I had children myself
Katie smiled politely. Oh? Havent found Mr Right yet?
Oh, but I have, sighed the woman with a dramatic flick of her hair. Trouble is, hes already married. Though, hes terribly unhappy and talking about divorce. Shall I show you a photo?
Katie took the phone, glanced at the screenand nearly dropped it. Staring back at her, beaming in the sunshine, was him.
***
Years before, it had all been dizzyingly romantic.
Come on, Katie! Hurry up! Lets go see that new film! shouted Alex down the street, while Katie charged toward him without a care in the world, practically skipping over the pavement.
Neighbours grumbled from their doorsteps.
Shes off her rocker, that one
Not that Katie cared. She loved Alex absolutely, hopelessly, with all the enthusiasm of someone who still hadnt figured out how to use the washing machine properly.
When school ended, the two were inseparable. You couldnt imagine one without the other, and the idea of them not being together was simply unthinkable.
So, absolutely no one was the least bit shocked when they eventually got married.
Alex went off to study law, collar turned up and all. Katie, keen on further education herself, had her plans thwarted when maternity leave came knocking early. At just nineteen, she was thrown in with the laundry, nappies, sleepless nights, and the kind of bone-deep tiredness that even a bucket of Yorkshire tea couldnt cure.
Every house chore landed neatly in her lap. Alexnow on a distance learning programme and holding down a jobneeded rest, of course. At least, thats what Katie told herself for months, shuffling around the house in the same baggy shorts and a misfit T-shirt, the state of her hair a mystery lost to the ages. She was thinner, frazzled, nervywhich somehow made her even more invisible.
Kat, youre the loveliest woman in the world to me, Alex would say, dapper and successful, every hair in place. Once little Ians older, youll seeyoull have your chance!
Katie just nodded, clinging to the vague idea of going back to school. Maybe one day, when Ian was a bit bigger
But then came the plot twist. The moment Ian turned two, Katie discovered she was pregnant again. She wasnt sure whether to be ecstatic or just utterly overwhelmed.
Alex, however, declared, Why the long face? Were going to have the perfect familya son and a daughter!
So school was shelved for another undefined stretch of years.
It only got harder. Katie lost track of days, monthspossibly even what year it was. After Sophie was born, life became a carousel of nappies, bibs, puree explosions and teething. While one childs molars staged a protest, the other was wailing about a sore tummy.
Add the endless domestic circustidying up, ironing Alex’s shirts, wrestling with the washing, and trying to remember what a hot meal tasted like. Katie began to wonder if this was simply her new normal.
Her mother did her best, comforting, helping out when she could.
What did you expect, love? Two little onesbound to be tough, shed say, which, most days, was about as soothing as a cold cup of tea.
Time passedeventually, both children grew. Sophie was all smiles and frills, Ian started preschool, and for a fleeting moment, Katie felt like she could breathe again.
One day, she dared to bring up studying again. Alex only looked at her with genuine puzzlement, raising his eyebrows above the laptop.
Studying? Youre joking, surely? Ians nearly at big school. Sophie still needs you at home. Not to mention, dont I provide enough? I dont see why the children should spend all day without their mum. Youve got it easy, honestly
Katie objected, telling him she wanted a qualification, a job, perhaps even a career one day. Shed loved studying and left school with top grades.
Alex scoffed: Career? Really, love? Youre not exactly getting any younger. Just accept it now, will you?
So, as instructed, she stayed at home. At least things got marginally easiershe finally had a little time for herself. She bought some new clothes, got her hair done, even managed a mani.
One night, feeling quite proud, Katie twirled in front of Alex while he typed away.
Notice anything different, darling? New jumper new hair my nails, even! she prompted.
Alex didnt look up. Something happen? Is this a trick question?
Come on, love! Lets go out like we used tomaybe a film, or just a walk in the park. Remember those nights? That bench under the stars I never get to see you anymore. The kids hardly see you.
Parks? Nails? And what about the children? If you want to know where I am, Im out earning, so this family can eat. And, by the way, Im off on a business trip next weekfor three weeks.
Katies jaw dropped. Again? All year long youve been on business trips. We never see you!
It cant be helped, love. Money doesnt grow on trees, Alex replied, pecked her on the cheek, and promptly disappeared to bed.
Katie shook her head and tucked the children in. Later, she tiptoed into the bedroom. Alex was snoring softly, back turned. Thats when she realised thats how theyd slept for monthsfacing away from each other, as if by silent agreement.
Their building boasted a splendid playgroundslides, swings, andjust round the cornera grand old park with benches and a tiny duck pond.
Katie often went there with the kids. Shed bring along a magazine or book, gaze around on the off-chance shed spot Ian or Sophie in some perilous mischief.
On those afternoons, shed sometimes spot a very fashionable woman in the park. Beautiful hair, Italian shoes, glamorous bagthe sort who looked like shed spent more time on her outfit than Katie had on sleep in the past year. Glamorous Woman would walk by, sometimes sitting, sometimes sashaying around, courteous yet distant.
Eventually they started greeting each other, and today, Glamorous Woman actually approached.
Hello! We keep bumping into each other so often that I thought, lets just say hello, properly. If you dont mind, of course. She smiled as if they were old school friends.
Of course! Katie replied warmly. Im Katie and these are Ian and Sophie.
Im Christine. Absolutely darling childrenyoure very lucky, you know. I wish I could have children with the man I love Christine looked down at her designer shoes with uncharacteristic sadness.
Katie hesitated. Oh, love, havent you found the right bloke or erm, sorry, was that rude?
Oh dont worry. I have found someone. The catch ishes married. But hes absolutely miserable and thinking of leaving his wife soon. I just have to be patient, then Ill have the whole familykids, husband, the lot. Christine sighed with world-weary bravado.
Wellyes, Im sure everything will work out for you, Katie said, though she had her doubts.
Would you like to see a photo of him? Hes very handsome, fantastic job, earns more than enoughhe spoils me rotten! We just got back from Rome, and in a few days were off to Greece, Christine giggled, flicking through her phone. Here we are in Rome
Katie looked at the phone and froze. Smiling back, arm around Christine, was her own Alex.
She shoved the phone back and called for her children, tears stinging her eyes as she struggled not to break down in the middle of the park.
Christine quietly and quickly melted awayperhaps shed already worked it out. It didnt matter, though. Katie couldnt see anything but that photo: her husband, arm in arm with another woman.
The journey home was a blur. The kids and half-packed bags were bundled into a taxi, the driver side-eyeing them curiously.
At Mums, Katie sent the kids to watch cartoons and finally let herself crumble.
Mum, can you believe it? she sobbed. Im stuck at home with two kids, and hes hes in Italy. Greece! With another woman! How? I gave up everything for himuniversity, a career, all my dreams. How could he?
Oh, love, sometimes youve just got to get on with it, Mum said gently. Ill help you any way I can if you want to split up. Life isnt overyoure still young, and the children are a blessing
After shed calmed down, Katie rang Alex and laid out the whole storyleaving nothing out. At the end, she told him she wanted a divorce.
Alex was floored, stunned into uncharacteristic silence. But as soon as she mentioned Christine, he snapped to life, all irritation.
Well, I suppose youd have found out sooner or later. Fine, divorce it is. The flats in your nameyou stay as long as you like. Youve met Christine. Sheswell, shes Christine. And youno education, homemaker, nothing special. Im a respectable fellow, you know. He hung up without another word.
Katie stared at the silent phone, half expecting Alex to call back, to say it was all a misunderstanding, a bad joke, that hed come running home.
But the phone stayed quiet.
Well, thats that, she thought. Time to forget and start over. She had no idea where to begin, how shed get up in the morning without himbut then she realised shed been without him for a long time already. She just hadnt noticed. Or maybe, shed simply chosen not to see.
