3 #2
It was easy for their mother; she’d always been a straight talker.
Dani was much more like her father. He hated hurting anyone’s feelings; he was a soft, gentle man who’d adored his wife.
Dani often thought that Chloe and Adam had a similar dynamic to their parents.
Chloe was the feisty one and seemed in control of pretty much everything.
The house ran like clockwork. Chloe had also finished her law degree but when she’d fallen pregnant, she’d opted to stay home.
They’d been lucky that Adam’s career had allowed them that luxury.
Nevertheless, Chloe had thrown herself into motherhood and being a corporate wife with as much drive and enthusiasm as she had for her legal career.
Chloe pretty much excelled at everything.
She’d taught herself how to sew and she now made the children’s fancy dress costumes and volunteered her services to the school whenever they put on a production.
Her garden was immaculate, all due to Chloe’s handiwork.
The remodel of their home was all Chloe – her ideas and her vision.
Dani was in awe of her. When she put her mind to it, Chloe just seemed to achieve whatever she wanted.
Her ambition had also pushed Adam. Even though a lot of his success was down to his extreme diligence and proficiency, it was Chloe that nudged him that bit further.
Dani looked at the blank screen, then sighed hard as she started to type.
Jez,
I’d like to say I’m sorry for not answering or replying to you but to be perfectly honest, I’m not.
These past few days I have had time to stand back and reflect on our relationship.
All I seem to come up with is that I gave you every part of me, so much so that I lost myself.
You had me totally and completely, but I was never enough.
These past few days I seemed to have found myself again.
I realised you never loved me, not in the way you should have.
If you love someone, you don’t hurt them but you did, deeply.
I can’t be with someone I don’t trust. It’s as simple as that.
I would never be able to trust you, ever.
I don’t want to get into the amount of pain you’ve caused me because I know you don’t really care. Your actions proved that. Your words mean nothing to me unless you can back them up with true feelings and actions.
Please stop pestering me. Whatever you have to say won’t make any difference. We are finished. And after five years, that hurts to say, but it’s the truth.
I’ve asked Adam to deal with the house. You’ll hear from him shortly. I also took half of the money we had in our joint bank account. I’ll send back the cheque book and card.
Please don’t call me anymore. I’m not ready to speak to you. I’m not sure if I ever will be.
Dani
Dani wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.
Her finger hovered over the ‘Send’ option.
She knew the email was cold and harsh, but it was how she felt.
Her heart felt like it had encased itself in ice.
Trust was paramount to her, and Jez had shattered her with his betrayal.
She felt herself harden every time the image of Julie straddled over Jez came searing back into her mind.
She hit the ‘Send’ key, then shut down her computer.
She knew she’d be hearing from him soon – his ego couldn’t take the rejection.
Dani’s attention was directed to the fireworks exploding in the sky.
She watched as they lit up the dark with a myriad of different coloured stars.
She hoped she’d get a job soon. She wasn’t used to sitting around – it gave her too much time to think and she really didn’t want to do that.
She needed to lose herself in work – distract herself from the constant pain she was feeling.
Dani was emptying the dishwasher when Chloe, Adam and the children returned.
“Did you have a good time?”
Ollie grinned broadly, “It was brilliant! We got to toast marshmallows on the fire and I helped Dad with the hotdogs. Did you see the rockets?”
“Yes I did! They were awesome.”
Chloe ushered them upstairs to get bathed and changed, and Adam leaned on the door, eyeing Dani. “You okay?” he asked.
Dani shrugged.
“Nervous about tomorrow?” Adam walked through the threshold.
Dani half-shrugged. “I sent an email to Jez.”
Adam’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, I see. What did he say?”
“I turned off my computer after I sent it.”
“Well at least you got whatever you wanted to say off your chest, eh?”
“I suppose.” Dani slumped onto one of the chairs around the kitchen table.
“I think we need a drink.” Adam turned around and headed for the lounge. He came back with a couple of glasses and a bottle of brandy.
Dani grinned at him. “What about some cakes?”
Adam’s blue eyes sparkled. “Cakes?”
“Oh yes. And not just any cakes, Betty’s cakes. We went there today and brought some back.”
“Excellent.” He rubbed his hands together.
Chloe came down into the kitchen to find Adam and Chloe working their way through the box of cakes. “There better be some for me.” She retrieved a spoon from the drawer and sat down with them.
“I tell you what, that Betty knows how to make cakes.” Dani licked her spoon.
“The recipes were made by a man, Dani,” corrected Chloe.
“A man?”
“Yep. A Swiss man.”
“Who’s Betty, then?”
Chloe shrugged, “I think she was some random young girl. The story goes that she interrupted a meeting when they were deciding on a name. Not sure, though.”
“Well I’d marry any man who could make me cakes like this.”
Adam laughed loudly. “That’s why I married Chloe, for her cakes!”
Chloe’s mouth dropped open and she mock snarled at him.
“That and her ass,” he corrected.
Chloe’s face broke into giggles. “Too right and my ass!” she got up and wiggled it in his direction and Adam playfully slapped it. Dani laughed for the first time in five days as she watched the two of them fool around.