Chapter 40
40
MONDAY
Dee placed the toasted tea cakes, butter and jam on a tray along with the two cups of coffee and picked it up ready to take to the people on the table in the corner. She was halfway across the café when the door opened and Babs walked in, pulling a suitcase behind her. Dee almost dropped the tray in shock. She grasped it firmly and quickly scrutinised her friend. Babs didn’t look happy, there were bags under her red-rimmed eyes. Obviously the trip to Spain hadn’t gone well, and judging by the suitcase, Babs and Geoff had split up again. Could it be for good this time?
Andi came to the rescue. ‘I’ll deal with this. We’re not too busy, take a break and see what’s up with Babs.’
Dee thanked her and hurried over to her friend who was now sitting at an empty table, her suitcase leaning against the wall.
‘Babs,’ she said, horrified at how distressed her friend looked. ‘What’s happened?’
‘I’ve left Geoff. Can I stay with you until I sort myself out, please?’
‘Of course you can.’ Dee gave her a big hug then sat down beside her. ‘Why though? I thought Geoff said he would drop the idea of living in Spain if you didn’t want to.’
Andi appeared at the table with a tray laden with a pot of tea, two mugs, a milk jug and a sugar bowl. ‘I thought you might need this.’ She squeezed Babs on the shoulder comfortingly then went back to serving the other customers.
Babs bit her lip and her eyes misted over with unshed tears. ‘He has dropped the idea but he’s so miserable, Dee. I feel like I’ve ruined his dream. I’ve stopped him from doing what he wants with his life. I’ll be unhappy if we live in Spain, he’s going to be unhappy if he doesn’t live there. The best thing we can do is part and let each other live our lives as we want.’
‘Does it have to be that drastic?’ Dee poured out the tea, adding sugar to Babs’ mug before passing it over to her.
‘There’s no other way. I want Geoff to be happy.’ Babs painted a bright smile on her face. ‘Anyway, never mind us. What about you and Nigel?’
‘I’ve filed for divorce.’
‘Good for you. I was worried that you’d go back to him. I never could stand him.’
‘What? You never told me that!’ Dee said, a little annoyed.
‘Of course not, how could I? You obviously saw him differently. He treated you awfully and you seemed scared to have fun around him,’ Babs pointed out.
Dee had to acknowledge that Babs was right.
‘Geoff isn’t like Nigel though, Babs. Surely there must be some solution. It’s clear you both love each other and want to be together. Can’t you compromise?’
‘We tried to compromise. I told you, we looked at mountain houses, countryside houses, town houses, beach apartments… but I couldn’t see myself living in any of them. I like the UK. I like to be by my friends and family. By you! I don’t mind going to Spain for a holiday, but that’s it.’
‘Then does it have to be all or nothing? How about a holiday home?’
‘I think that would cause more problems. Geoff would want to stay over in Spain as much as he could and I’ll be travelling back and forth, basically living on my own. Plus there’s the cost.’
‘Look, can’t you talk to Geoff about how you feel? He’s great. He’s not like Nigel. He’s been a good husband to you, Babs. You can’t just give up on him over this.’
Babs eyes flashed. ‘Yes and I’ve been a good wife to him too! I’ve compromised all my life if you think about it. Geoff might not criticise me like Nigel does you, we both let each other be free. But it’s Geoff’s parents’ house we lived in, his parents’ shop we worked in. I worked in that shop whilst bringing up two children because Geoff wanted to keep the family home and the family business. And I loved him and wanted him to be happy. Whereas, you had time to spend with your kids.’ Tears were spilling out of Babs’ eyes now, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. ‘Everyone thinks good old Geoff, lets Babs be as loud and crazy as she wants, but what about good old Babs who’s supported Geoff in what he wanted to do for years?’
Dee was so astonished, she had never heard Babs rant like this before. ‘I thought you two were happy…?’
‘We were… are… but you’re talking as if I don’t compromise when I always have but no one has ever seen it. Geoff and I worked all the hours under the sun in that shop. When we had to sell it I thought it might be time for us, that we could do things together, go away more often. Instead he shuts himself in the shed or garden and I’m hours on my own. Then he finds a lump he doesn’t tell me about, discovers it’s benign thank goodness, and again doesn’t tell me. But it frightened him that much he decides we’re going to live in Spain, whether I want to or not.’
She looked defiantly at Dee. ‘And somehow I’m in the wrong for not wanting to go. Like what I want doesn’t matter? Just because Geoff hasn’t cheated on me or put me down like Nigel did to you, doesn’t mean he’s perfect. And now, because for once, I put my foot down and don’t want to do what Geoff wants I’m the bad wife! How fair is that?’
Dee stared at her aghast. She had never thought of it like that. Yes, in a way she’d envied Babs because Geoff was so lovely, but Babs was lovely too. And she had always backed Geoff, until now. She remembered how Babs had even worked in the shop when the children were very young, taking them with her, sleeping in the pram, playing in a playpen in the backroom, building Lego quietly in the corner. She hadn’t meant to insinuate that Babs didn’t appreciate Geoff or that she had to do whatever he wanted.
She held out her arms. ‘I’m sorry.’
Babs collapsed into them and they hugged.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to rant.’ Babs sniffed, pulling away and blowing her nose. ‘I know you meant well. I don’t want to split up, I love Geoff. But I don’t want him to give up his dream and be unhappy.’ Her voice wobbled. ‘It isn’t the life I want though, Dee. And if we stay together, one of us will be miserable and we’ll probably both end up resenting each other. The best thing we can do is set each other free, and stay friends. Then Geoff can go and live his life in Spain.’
‘And what about you?’ Dee asked softly. She hated to see her friend so upset and could see that this wasn’t an easy decision for her.
‘I was hoping that I could stay with you until I’ve sorted something out, if Edna doesn’t mind,’ Babs said. ‘I know you have to be out of the cottage when Edna comes home, but maybe we can find somewhere else to rent together until we both get our settlement from our divorces?’
Dee hugged her. ‘Of course you can. I’ll be glad of the company. I’m sure it will be fine for you to move in with me. I’ll check with Edna, but I’m positive it will be okay.’
‘Thanks. You’re a good friend,’ Babs said with a wan smile.
Dee gave Babs the keys to the cottage and told her to make herself comfortable. As soon as she got the chance she’d phone Edna and see if it was okay for Babs to sleep in her room. She’d be finished work in a couple of hours and they’d sort it out then.
‘I noticed the suitcase,’ Andi whispered as Dee returned to help serve. ‘I hope Babs is okay.’
So did she, Dee thought.
As soon as she could take a break, Dee phoned Edna and explained the situation. ‘Of course Babs can have my room, dear, although I will need it back when I return,’ Edna said.
‘We’ll both rent a place together then,’ Dee promised her. ‘Once summer is over, we should be able to get a winter let.’ Then maybe both their divorces would be through and they could each buy somewhere more permanent.
When Babs made that toast to ‘The Runaway Wives’ the night she walked out on Geoff, neither of them knew how prophetic it would be.