Chapter 3
3
DEE
When Dee pulled up at her house she saw Nigel’s silver BMW in the drive. He’d come home early then, probably to pack. Butterflies of excitement fluttered in her stomach as she picked up her bags of shopping and went in. ‘Nigel!’
He was in the kitchen, rummaging through his wallet. He’d obviously finished work some time ago, as he’d left this morning wearing his dark blue suit and blue and white striped shirt. He’d changed into beige slim-fit chinos, a white Ralph Lauren polo top and what looked like a new pair of brown loafers. Although Nigel was sixty-four, he had a full head of silver, expertly styled hair, and always kept himself trim and fit. He was still a handsome man, she thought admiringly. Nigel liked to look after himself, and he expected Dee to do the same. He glanced over at her. ‘You’ve been on a bit of a shopping spree, by the look of it,’ he said, looking pointedly at the bags she was carrying. ‘What’s the occasion?’
She giggled. ‘Very funny. Pretending that you’ve forgotten.’
‘Forgotten what?’ Nigel was still rummaging through his wallet. ‘Now, where did I put it?’
‘What are you looking for?’ Dee asked.
‘My bank card— ah, here it is.’
Dee suddenly noticed his suitcase. ‘Is the flight tonight?’
‘Early in the morning, so I’ve booked a room in a hotel near the airport.’
‘Gosh, you could have told me. What time do we have to leave? I’ll only need half an hour or so to pack.’ Thank goodness she’d bought all these new clothes today, she could simply put them straight into her case. It was already packed with the essentials.
‘Pack? What do you mean?’ Nigel peered through his designer spectacles at her, his slate-grey eyes puzzled. ‘Where are you going?’
‘With you. To Portugal. Stop teasing, I know about the surprise. I saw the booking for the villa.’
Nigel’s jaw dropped open. ‘You want to come?’
Dee started to feel a bit uneasy. ‘Of course I want to come. You’ve booked it for us, haven’t you? As my birthday surprise.’
The stunned look that swept across Nigel’s face couldn’t have been faked. ‘When’s your birthday?’
‘Tomorrow,’ Dee said slowly. ‘It’s my sixtieth.’
Nigel slammed his forehead with the heel of his hand. ‘Sorry. I forgot! I thought it was next month.’
Dee looked at the suitcase, then at Nigel. ‘So the villa isn’t a birthday surprise for me…?’
‘Er… no, I’m going golfing with the lads. Didn’t I tell you? We managed to get a brilliant late offer.’ Nigel glanced at his Rolex. ‘And I have to go. Sorry, love. I’ll bring you something nice back for your birthday.’
Dee stood rooted to the spot as Nigel kissed her on the forehead, grabbed his case and walked out of the house.
He was actually going on a golfing holiday to Portugal without her on her birthday!
* * *
Dee sank down onto a kitchen chair, stunned. This was typical Nigel, she should have known that he wasn’t planning a surprise trip for her. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d ever arranged any kind of surprise.
She was so deep in thought that it took her a few minutes to realise that her phone was ringing. It might be Nigel, apologising, maybe even telling her to come – not that she would, she didn’t want to be stuck in a villa with him and his golfing buddies. To her surprise, Babs’ image was flashing on the screen. She hit accept.
‘Sorry, I know you’re probably busy with all your holiday preparations but I had to vent, I’m fuming!’
‘What’s happened?’
‘Geoff has put the house on the market and decided that we’re going to live in Spain. That’s what’s happened.’
‘What?’
‘Yep. He booked an appointment with an estate agent while I was out today! Apparently it goes on the market Monday and he’s arranged for us to fly over to Spain next weekend and view some properties so we can be ready to go as soon as it sells. Can you believe it? Without even discussing it with me! Well, he can think again! I’ve told him he can jolly well cancel the sale and the trip to Spain.’
Dee couldn’t believe it herself, this seemed completely out of character. She’d always thought of Geoff as being generally considerate and caring. Other than the big bone of contention between him and Babs about how much time and money he spent on the garden, particularly in his shed, especially now they’d both retired. ‘It’s a wonder he doesn’t move his bloody bed in there,’ Babs often said, and Dee would gently point out that he might like a bit of time to himself and at least he was home. Dee often wished Nigel would spend more time at home.
‘I think he’s having his midlife crisis late,’ Babs was saying. ‘He’s being selfish and inconsiderate, only thinking about what he wants to do with his life.’
Just like Nigel. Why did men think they could do whatever they pleased and the women would simply fit in? No wonder Babs was fuming! Though, Dee was sure Geoff wouldn’t go ahead with his plans if Babs insisted that she didn’t want to.
‘Why don’t you treat this trip away as a holiday?’ Dee suggested as she helped herself to a large glass of chilled wine. ‘You were saying how much you’re craving sunshine, so here’s your chance to get out of Bristol. And it might be nice to have a look around, some of those Spanish villas are amazing. You don’t have to agree to buy one. Besides, Geoff might actually decide that he doesn’t want to live over there once he’s had a look around. He’s probably bored now you’re both retired, and looking for something to fill the time.’
‘No chance! He’s not looking at any villas. He’s looking at sprawling farmhouses in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by olive trees and goats.’ She could hear the anger in Babs’ voice. ‘Well, I’m not bloody doing it! I’m not upending my life and moving to another country because he’s decided he wants to. And I’ve told him so.’
Dee couldn’t imagine Babs and Geoff living in a remote place like that. They both loved company, that’s why they enjoyed working in their corner shop, chatting to the customers every day. They were both really sociable. What on earth was Geoff thinking of?
‘I don’t blame you. And I’m sure when it comes to it, Geoff wouldn’t want to live anywhere like that either,’ she said. ‘He probably got a bit carried away watching those programmes on TV.’
‘He’s like a dog with a bone, no matter what I say he goes on and on.’ Babs paused. ‘Sorry I didn’t mean to phone and spoil your evening, I just needed someone to rant to. I bet you’re having a glass of wine together and chilling out before you fly out tomorrow.’ Her voice was still simmering with anger but the volume was lower now. ‘What time are you leaving?’
‘I’m not.’
‘What? Why? Have you had a row?’
Dee gave an ironic laugh. ‘Row? There wasn’t even time to row. When I got home Nigel already had his suitcase packed and was out the house before I had time to draw breath.’
‘What? But your surprise holiday… is he coming back for you? You’re meant to be going tomorrow.’
‘Well, it turns out that the surprise holiday was a golfing holiday for Nigel and his pals. He left half an hour ago, they’re all staying overnight at a hotel at the airport.’
‘But what about your birthday?’ Babs sounded incredulous.
‘Apparently, Nigel thought it was next month.’
‘You mean he’s gone off with his mates and left you all alone on your sixtieth birthday?’ Babs said the words slowly as if she couldn’t quite believe them.
‘That’s right.’ Dee finished her wine and considered pouring another glass.
‘So what are you doing right now?’
‘Drinking wine. Want to join me?’ she added on impulse. ‘Bring a suitcase and stay over if you want. That’ll show Geoff you’re seriously peed off.’
‘You know, I think I will. I’ll be there in ten.’
* * *
Dee only had time to put another bottle of Pinot Grigio in the fridge to cool, open a packet of crackers and put them on a tray with some cheese, when Babs was at the door with a large suitcase and a taxi was reversing back down the drive.
‘I’ve told him that I’m not coming back until he stops being an arsehole,’ Babs declared as she left her suitcase in the hall then followed Dee into the lounge. ‘He said I’m overreacting and hopes I’ve cooled down by the morning, and that we can have “a civil conversation” about this.’ She dropped into the nearest chair. ‘I’ve told him that there’s no way on this earth I’ll be changing my mind and agreeing to live in the back of the Spanish beyond with him.’
Dee handed her a glass of wine. Babs took a long gulp, then exhaled. ‘I’m sorry, listen to me banging on when you’ve been left home alone for your sixtieth.’ She took another gulp of wine. ‘These bloody men, they don’t deserve us!’
‘They certainly don’t.’ Dee sat down on the sofa and curled her legs underneath her. ‘Look, if you dig your heels in Geoff will have to listen. He can’t sell the house if you don’t agree.’
‘The trouble is, he can.’ Babs’ heavily mascaraed eyes met hers. ‘His parents left him the house and the shop when they died, remember? It’s in his name.’
Dee stared at her in disbelief. ‘You mean he’s never added your name to the deeds?’
‘No, and I didn’t actually think about asking him to. It was his family home and I never dreamed that he would do anything like this.’
Dee digested this. ‘You must have rights, surely? You’re married. And you worked in the corner shop all those years. Your money went towards the upkeep of the house,’ she pointed out.
Babs nodded. ‘I know, but it’s Geoff’s name on the deeds, not mine, so he can legally sell it without my signature. Mind, I’ll make it bloody hard for him. I’ll make sure no one wants to buy it. If he wants a battle, he can have one!’
This was awful, Dee thought. She couldn’t believe Geoff was threatening to sell the house and move to Spain whether Babs agreed or not. And she knew Babs, the more Geoff pushed her into a corner the more she would rally against it. They could end up separating over this. And where would that leave Babs?
‘What are you going to do?’ Dee asked.
Babs looked at her over the rim of her wine glass. ‘I’ll tell you what I’m not going to do. I’m not going to stay at home and let him walk all over me. I’m going away for a few days. That’s why I’ve brought a big suitcase with me.’ She finished her wine. ‘Why don’t you come with me? That’ll give Nige a shock.’
It was tempting, Dee thought. Babs was right, why should she spend her birthday week here alone while Nigel was living it up in Portugal.
‘Are you serious?’
‘Deadly!’ Babs’ eyes glinted. ‘I’ll tell Geoff I’m not coming back until he takes the house off the market and gives up on this ridiculous idea of living in Spain. If he can make decisions without me, then I can make them without him too.’ She nodded adamantly. ‘Let’s find a hotel or a cottage somewhere by the sea and have ourselves a little break. I didn’t think to bring my passport or we could have gone abroad and I can’t be bothered to get a taxi back to the house for it now.’ She frowned. ‘Actually, Geoff must have needed it to book our flights.’
Dee was tempted. She didn’t fancy staying here by herself while Nigel had a holiday in Portugal with his golfing buddies. It would be good to get away. A week by the sea sounded like a great idea.
‘You know, I think I will.’ Dee refilled both their glasses. ‘Now, where shall we go?’ Then she had an idea. ‘How about Cornwall? I had some lovely holidays down there when the kids were young. And it’s only May so there should still be some holiday cottages vacant.’ She picked up her phone and opened her weather app. ‘Look, it’s mild and sunny at the moment. Lovely walking weather.’
‘Sounds good to me.’ A smile curled across Babs’ lips. ‘That’ll show them.’ She held out her glass. ‘To us! The Runaway Wives.’