After her training, Victoria hurried homeshe had promised her husband to cook his favourite fish pie. As she stepped into the flat, she found Leonard sitting at the kitchen table, sipping wine alone.
“Ah, drinking without me, are we, Leonard? Couldnt wait? At least let me fetch some cheese to go with it.”
“No, sit. We need to talk.”
She had never seen him so sombre. Good Lord, what had happened?
“I dont know where to begin Ill just say it plainly. My secretary, Kitty, is expecting a childmy child. Im leaving to be with her.”
“Straight out of a cheap melodrama. How long has this been going on?”
“About a year. She started showing interest as soon as she joined, and I well, I didnt resist. Young, beautiful, livelyjust as you were in your twenties. I fell like a schoolboy! I meant to confess sooner, but I couldnt bear to hurt you.”
“Now theres no turning back. Were soon to be parents. Ive always wanted my own child. I love young Edward as if he were mine, but hes not my blood. I need an heirsomeone to leave the business to. With Kitty, I feel younger perhaps its a midlife crisis. Youve heard of those, havent you?”
“Of course, Im a scoundrel. But I wont leave you and Edward destitute. The flat, the cartheyre yours. Ill provide for you both, just as I promised. Ive already bought a house in Kittys nameshell be the mother of my child, after all.”
“I understand, Leonard. Hard to resist a pretty thing like Kitty, and youve always been a man of appetites. Its decent of you not to abandon the child. As for the money, thank youI wont refuse. I fancy travelling now, living for myself.”
“When do you leave? Need help packing?”
Leonard stared, taken aback by her composure. No hysterics? Perhaps it was for the best.
“Well then, goodbye, love. Thank you for the years we sharedthey were good ones! But life has its own plans. Maybe Ill find happiness with someone new too. Now off you goKitty must be waiting, and I wont keep you.”
He snatched up his bags, offered an awkward smile, and hurried toward the lift.
Once the door clicked shut, Victoria returned to the kitchen. From the fridge, she retrieved a bottle of champagne, poured herself a glass, and drank deeply. Her husband had left her. How strange it sounded.
Never had she imagined such a thing. They had lived quietly all these yearsnot madly in love, but bound by habit, respect.
No use crying over spilt milk. A new life, new rules! Shed find her way, and at least Leonard would pay. Only a fool would refuse the money. Still, shed need to adjust to her new status.
And so Victoria was swept into a whirl of new experiences. She enrolled in dance lessons, attended galleries and cinemas after work. On weekends, she visited museums and kept up her fitness. Thankfully, she had companyher neighbour Irene, cheerful and single, was happy to join her.
Her son Edward studied in another city, rarely coming home. Victoria thrived on solitude. She cooked only what she fancied, answered to no one. About new men, she didnt even thinkshe was content as she was.
The separation was quiet, civil. Once, she spotted Kitty in a courthouse corridora beauty, no denying that. Leonard had good taste.
True to his word, he sent money monthly. Victoria was gratefulhis business flourished, and he could afford it without strain. A kindness, considering the years theyd shared. Kitty likely knew nothing of itshe wouldnt have approved.
A year passed. Victorias routine held steadydance classes, gym trips, a few holidays abroad. Then the payments stopped. She didnt ask why. Perhaps Kitty had forbidden it. No mattershed manage. Edward earned well now, and her own wages covered her needs.
One Sunday, with nowhere to rush, she savoured the stillness. Cooking fish pie, she realised shed run out of breada staple she adored. Dashing to the shop, she ran straight into Leonard.
“Leonard! What brings you here?”
“Hello, Victoria. I live nearby nowbought a flat.”
“Well, thats news. Hows Kitty? And the baby? A boy or a girl?”
“A daughter Its quite the tale. That Kitty? Planted by a rival. Gained my trust, made me fallyou know the rest. After the birth, she demanded the business, feared Id leave her with nothing. In a moment of weakness, I signed it all over. Left a sum aside shell never know of. Then she cast me out. The child isnt even minethe business belongs to my rival now. Quite the farce, isnt it? A proper penny dreadful ending.”
“Bought a flat, found workno complaints. But the life I had is gone. And I cant help you anymore Im sorry. Youll likely want nothing to do with meI hurt you deeply.”
Victoria pitied him. He looked dreadful. What a viper that Kitty was! All those years hed poured into the business
“You great fool, Leonard! Come to mineIve just made fish pie, your favourite.”
They spoke warmly in the kitchen where theyd met daily for years. But now they were no longer husband and wife.
Occasionally, they rang one another. No talk of reconciliationeach had their own path. Victoria met a man at her dance classes, married, and found happiness.
She invited Leonard to the wedding. He came, even toasted her joy. There, he met the grooms sister Six months later, Victoria celebrated at *his* wedding.
Life is nothing if not unpredictable. Never surrender, no matter the blow. You never know whats comingjust live, and take joy in every day.
After Her Workout, She Was in for a Surprise When She Got Home.
