Chapter 13 #2
‘It was about five months later at parents’ evening.
Harry was the uncle of one of my students and had stepped in when the parents couldn’t make it.
He was the last appointment of the night and I was shattered and completely peopled out but he made me laugh.
I’d just turned thirty and he was thirty-six, divorced with no kids and, corny as it sounds, he swept me off my feet.
He travelled a lot with his job and, at first, I loved the distance relationship thing – just what I needed after Rob.
He sent me gifts and wrote me long emails and was so attentive when he was home.
It all seemed so romantic and, even though I used to believe there was only one true love for everyone and mine had been Rob, I realised that was rubbish because I was hopelessly in love with Harry and desperate for us to be a family.
Not ideal when he’d made it clear he didn’t want to get married again or ever have kids. ’
‘Obviously you have Coral, so what changed for him?’
Milly grimaced. ‘Nothing. Coral was an accident – although, for me, a very happy one. When I told him I was pregnant, I was sure it would be the end of us and I’d be raising her on my own, but Harry surprised me by proposing.
We got married quickly – before Coral came along – and Harry was around for the first couple of months but then he went abroad for three months and I had a hard dose of reality.
The distance relationship thing suddenly wasn’t quite so romantic anymore, especially when the trips abroad became more frequent and for longer. ’
‘So you effectively raised her on your own anyway?’
‘Exactly!’ Milly took another sip of her drink.
‘I decided not to go back to teaching after my maternity leave ended. I spent most of my time at Mum and Dad’s in Windermere so they could help with Coral while I retrained for the job I do now.
I decided I wanted to move to the Lakes before Coral started school and I expected Harry to refuse but he went with it.
We rented out our flat in Manchester, bought the house in Pippinthwaite and I focused on raising my daughter and building my business while burying my head in the sand about my marriage being a disaster. ’
‘Milly, I’m so sorry. It can’t have been easy to make the decision to end things.’ I knew that from personal experience.
‘It wasn’t. I’ve known for a long time that we don’t have a proper marriage and, in dark moments, I’ve wondered about calling time on it but I never quite got to the point where I felt it was something I had to do.’
‘But you’ve hit that point now?’
She nodded. ‘While Coral was at home, she was my life and it didn’t bother me that I had no romance in it.
Even when she went away to university, I could kid myself that she hadn’t properly left home, but it all changes this year.
The Easter break will be the last time she’s home for any significant time.
She’ll be graduating in the summer and moving down to London with her boyfriend and I’ll be properly on my own. ’
‘You wouldn’t consider following her to London?’ I asked.
‘God, no! I wouldn’t want to cramp their style and London’s not for me.
I love this area and I’m close to my parents, but I feel as though I’ve spent long enough on my own.
I want to meet someone who loves me more than their job and actually wants to spend time here with me rather than on the other side of the world. That’s not too much to ask, is it?’
I shook my head. ‘Of course not! You absolutely deserve that.’
‘I think so! Not that I have any clue how I’d find that person.
The thought of using a dating app makes my blood run cold and I don’t meet anyone in person through my work, so finding the man of my dreams is going to be one heck of a challenge but I’m open to it happening somehow.
It’s scary but it’s time to take the plunge again and hope for third time lucky. ’
Milly held up crossed fingers and I did the same, feeling so sorry for her that she’d trusted two men with her heart only for them both to break it.
‘I’m sure it will happen, probably when you least expect it.’
‘I love the idea of an unexpected romantic meet-cute.’ She smiled at me and I loved how her eyes sparkled with the possibilities that lay ahead.
‘You sound really positive.’
‘I feel it. Finally making the decision that it’s over has lifted such a weight from me and it’s all thanks to Saffy’s journal questions. They forced me to do some serious soul searching.’
‘They were good questions.’
‘How have you got on with the rest of yours? You mentioned the house move, but was there anything else big?’
So many things but our lunch would arrive at any moment and my life story was not something I could casually share between mouthfuls of roast potato and Yorkshire pudding.
When I let Milly in – which I absolutely would – I wanted to be able to take my time.
It also felt fairer to keep today about Milly and the momentous decision she’d made about her future.
I was beyond flattered that she’d sought me out to share such a major life decision with me, demonstrating trust and friendship.
‘A few biggies, but I’ll tell you about them when they’re set in stone.
I do have another confirmed entry in my things to see section.
Cliff and I used to go out a lot and I’ve become a bit reclusive since he died so I’m determined to get out and about more.
We used to be regulars at the cinema and theatre and I haven’t been since, so if you ever fancy going to either… ?’
‘Ooh, I’d love to! I haven’t been to the cinema in ages and I can’t remember the last time I went to the theatre. Count me in.’
Our meals did arrive at that point and, as we tucked in, we talked about films, plays and musicals we’d seen and loved.
I discovered that Milly had also had a Tom Cruise crush with film posters from Cocktail and Rain Man on her bedroom walls.
We had so much in common and Milly was beginning to feel like a kindred spirit.
‘I wish I could stay here chatting to you all afternoon,’ she said a little later, ‘but I have to get back to do some work. Why don’t we make Sunday lunch a regular thing – maybe the first Sunday of each month?’
‘That would be great.’
‘Excellent.’ She checked her diary on her phone. ‘The first Sunday in February is the first of the month. Typing it in now. Lunch… with… Yvonne.’ She looked up with a wide smile. ‘Done.’
We left the pub and paused outside.
‘Thank you for today,’ she said. ‘I really needed a friend and you’ve perked me up no end.’
She hugged me and my heart soared as I hugged her back. First Paulette and now Milly making me feel needed and important. Joining Cake & Craft Club had already changed my life and I couldn’t help thinking this was just the tip of the iceberg with so much more to come.