Oh, absolutely not! Julia said triumphantly, shooting me a look. Turns out, Olivers mum was just waiting for her son to get married and finally give her some grandkids. She had everything planned to a T.
Julia had got married at 21, head over heels and against all her mums advice.
Hes 22 years older than you! Do you realise in ten years youll still be a young, beautiful woman and hell basically be an old man nursing ailments? her mum would protest.
Mum, where do you even get these clichés? Julia would frown, irritated. Honestly, cant stand hearing it.
Ill feel so safe with Stephen. We love each other. Love, Mum. Do you get that?
Julia didnt back down, and the wedding went ahead.
She moved into Stephens home he was a mid-level civil servant right after they married. And for a whole decade, she was convinced shed made the right choice.
He looked after her, spoiling her whenever she asked (which, to be fair, wasnt often). Thanks to him, she finished her degree without slogging away at part-time jobs, and landed a cushy position at one of his mates offices.
They got on together easily life was comfortable, fun, and light-hearted and very soon all the doubters had to admit theirs was a happy little family.
Even Julias mum warmed up to her son-in-law. Stephens two daughters eventually stopped eyeing their new stepmum suspiciously, and although they only chatted occasionally, at least things were cordial.
By the way, Stephen left almost everything to his ex when they split (even though it was she who wanted the divorce).
They never lived extravagantly, but they never struggled for money, either.
Until the day Stephen suddenly had a heart attack.
God, Julia was terrified! She spent every day at the hospital with him, and nursed him back to health once he came home.
Luckily, Stephen recovered.
But after a stint in a health retreat, Stephen left work for good. He started doing a few odd consulting jobs and would only pop out for short walks round the local park.
The real kicker was, well, their romantic life fizzled out completely.
Jules, hed say, almost apologetically, you know how risky anything strenuous is for me now. Youre not upset, are you?
Stephen! Dont be daft! shed answer, full of warmth. Doesnt matter as long as youre alright.
She said it, and she meant it… but you cant fool yourself forever. Things had never been wild between them, even on a good day; now, there was just nothing.
Rather than mope, Julia soon found herself drawn to someone else Daniel, new at work, and close to her own age.
Daniel was sweet and gentle, unfailingly polite, and the single women in the office noticed, but Julia saw the way he looked at her straight away.
I wont leave my husband, she told him, when he finally got up the nerve to invite her out for coffee. And no one can know about us.
Whatever you say, he replied, totally earnest.
They had their rendezvous in hotels, since Daniel still lived with his retired mum in a tiny one-bed flat, and Julia would never bring him back to hers.
They were discreet. At least, they thought so, until, eight months in, their smug-faced colleague Amy bumped into them outside a hotel.
And what are you two doing here? she asked, eyeing them both.
We just bumped into each other, Julia stammered.
Yeah, by chance, Daniel backed her up.
Oh come off it! Who do you think youre fooling? Amy snorted. Having a bit of a fling, are we?
Amy, please, dont tell anyone, Julia begged quietly. You know how it is
Dont worry, Jules. Im not saying a thing, Amy promised.
She kept her word in fact, the two women grew close, having lunch together, confiding personal stuff, so Amy knew all about Julia and Daniels rough patches.
Daniel was at me again last night, Julia confided. Keeps saying I should leave Stephen and marry him. Hes sick of sharing me with another man. But I told him theres nothing going on with me and my husband!
So what does he say?
Sulks. Says, You know what I mean.
Maybe you should just marry him, Amy suggested.
Oh, dont you start! Julia rolled her eyes. I love Stephen. Hes a good man. If I left, itd destroy him. For what? To share a shoebox with his mother? No, thank you!
Julia was convinced Daniel wouldnt go anywhere he was hopelessly in love, she could tell. Eventually, hed stop pestering her.
But it didnt exactly pan out that way.
How could you? Daniel was shaking, almost too angry to speak when she turned up for one of their usual secret meetings.
What? Whats happened?
You dont know?
Daniel, just spit it out we dont have long
You never have much time for me, but you made time for an abortion, didnt you? His cheeks went crimson with rage.
I dont Actually, yes, I did! That was my decision. What else could I do?
It was my baby too! You should have talked to me
And what would you have said? Leave Stephen and have the baby? Or make Stephen believe it was his when we both know it wasnt? she was nearly shouting now.
We could have built a life got married, raised our child.
Weve been over this. I cant marry you, Julia said, her voice suddenly flat and tired. Can we not do this again?
Its different now there was a baby.
There isnt anymore. Daniel, lets just forget it go back to how things were.
Youre not serious? he stared at her, appalled. I thought Doesnt matter. Were finished, Julia. Right now.
Suit yourself, she snapped, and stormed home.
Hed cool off and come around, she told herself.
He didnt, though. Instead, he ghosted her for a month, then disappeared on a work trip, not even a quick text.
Julia stayed silent too she had her pride but eventually her resolve cracked.
When Daniel was back in the office, she messaged him to meet at their favourite café.
Shed hoped for a friendly hug and kiss, but Daniel seemed distant, almost cold.
She tried chatting about his work trip
Jules, cut to the chase. I havent got all day, Daniel interrupted.
Ive missed you, she said uncertainly. Why dont we patch things up? I promise, Ill never keep anything from you again
Doesnt matter now, Daniel interrupted sharply. Best we dont waste each others time. Were done, Julia.
Im getting married and Im going to be a dad. Ill be a good husband this time, Julia. Sorry.
That was quick! she managed, half joking, not ready to believe him. So whos the luckiest woman in England, then?
Amy, he said evenly. Shes having my baby, and were getting married.
Also, Im leaving got a better job lined up, more pay. Got a family to look after now. Sorry, I have to go.
And off he went, leaving Julia reeling at a complete loss for words.
She found the words though, when she caught up with Amy.
Snapped him up for yourself, did you? Julia blurted, furious. Some mate you are!
Thats your problem, who you think I am, Amy shrugged, not the least bit bothered. You were stringing him along not fair on anyone!
Thats none of your business!
It is actually. I liked Daniel for ages but kept my nose out, while you spent lunches moaning about how you treated him.
So, I decided to help him show him what he deserved. Told him about the abortion. I wasnt wrong about him. Hes far too decent a guy for all that.
A bit too decent, if you ask me
He only came to me after hed broken things off with you, Amy went on, unmoved by Julias sarcasm. Yeah, we had a drink, slept together, and honestly I got pregnant right away. When Daniel found out, he proposed straight off.
Well, lucky you, Julia retorted, her voice icy. Bet youll have the time of your life squashed into a one-bed flat with his mother.
Actually, Amy said with a smug little smile, Olivers mum has been desperate for him to settle down and start a family. Shes sorted everything for us were moving into a spanking new two-bed flat soon.
And she wont hear of me working, either. Says I need to take care of myself, and not to worry about money
Julia stared at her, at a total loss.
Right, I need to dash were off to the private clinic with Daniel. And hey, dont take it so hard.
Turns out, Daniels mum was secret millionaire all along, Amy added, and strolled away across the park.
A couple of years later, Julia and Stephen split up Stephen found out about another young chap and filed for divorce himself.
That new guy didnt propose, either, so Julia ended up back at her mums. I reckon shes got plenty to think about now.
