36. Melanie #2
Janis frowned. ‘What do you mean, nothing will change? Where are we going to live? Who are we living with?’
‘Your dad will have primary custody.’
‘Thank God for that,’ Janis said.
‘You will still live here. I’m going to move out.’
‘Your mother,’ Frank told them, ‘has been very generous and offered for us to remain in the house and for me to be your primary carer.’
‘Well, you are,’ Joni pointed out. ‘You do everything.’
Melanie knew this should have stung her deeply, but it didn’t.
Joni was right. Frank was always there for them.
He was a brilliant dad and made up for her hands-off mothering.
She loved her children, but she had always found being a mother difficult.
It had never come naturally to her. If she’d had her way, they would have gone to boarding school, like Ross had, but Frank wouldn’t hear of it.
Instead of feeling bad about what Joni and Janis had said, she was looking forward to having her own place. She was excited about this new chapter in her life. She felt as if a noose was being untied and she was being set free. She could be a guilt-free workaholic.
‘Are you having an affair?’ Janis asked her mother.
‘Are you shagging some poxy author?’ Joni hissed.
‘No, she is not,’ Frank said. ‘And neither am I, for that matter.’
‘There is no one else, I promise. We have just grown apart and become more like best friends than partners,’ Melanie told them.
Joni chewed her nail. ‘So we stay here, Dad continues to look after us, and Mum moves somewhere nearby?’
‘Yes, and your mum can call over any time she likes. This is her house too,’ Frank assured them.
Joni’s eyes narrowed. ‘So Mum basically gets what she wants, a place to herself and no responsibility for us?’
‘This is a good day for you, Mum,’ Janis added.
‘Stop, girls, that’s not fair,’ Frank said.
‘Are you okay, Dad? Are you sad?’ Janis asked.
Frank nodded. ‘I am, of course, pet, it’s the end of our marriage, but your mum and I love each other and that will never change.
I’m glad there is no bitterness or nastiness.
We will always be friends and we will always be a foursome.
The four Fitzroys. That will never change.
Your mum will just be living down the road. ’
No – three Fitzroys and one Miller , Melanie thought.
‘Will we have to stay with Mum sometimes?’ Janis asked.
Melanie jumped in before Frank tried to persuade them that they’d have to sleep over in her place. ‘Not unless you want to. This is your home. I’ll rent somewhere nearby so you can always come home to sleep in your own beds if that’s what you’d prefer.’
‘See? I told you she doesn’t want anything to do with us. She’s thrilled to get out. I bet this was Mum’s idea.’ Joni looked at her father.
‘No, it was … it was fairly mutual,’ Frank said.
Melanie gestured to Frank. ‘Your dad is an exceptional person. I was lucky to meet him and you are blessed to have him as a parent. I know I’ve come up short on the parenting front, but Frank balances my weaknesses out.
I love you both, I want you to be happy, and I think this arrangement will be best for all of us. ’
‘Best for you, more like.’ Janis snorted. ‘Don’t try to tart it up as a great solution for all of us.’
‘Dad would never have left you. This is you doing what you always do – suiting yourself.’ Joni backed her sister.
Melanie was taken aback by their venom. Had her relationship with them fallen this low? She knew they didn’t have her on any pedestal, but their fury towards her was a surprise. She hadn’t expected it to be so strong and pointed.
‘Now, girls, come on. Your mother and I have decided to separate. It’s a mutual decision. Don’t be so hard on her. She loves you as much as I do.’
The twins laughed. ‘Nice try, Dad. The only thing Mum loves is work,’ Janis said.
‘I do love you. I may not be the best at showing it, but I do,’ Melanie said, in an attempt to defend herself.
‘Girls, I understand this is a shock and a lot to take in. Take a minute. Do you want to ask any questions? Would you like us to go through it again to clarify anything? We are here for you.’
Melanie frowned. What was there to clarify? They’d explained it all.
The twins shook their heads. ‘No,’ Joni said.
‘It’s not a huge shock,’ Janis admitted. ‘You are way more like room-mates than husband and wife, and Mum has never been into motherhood.’
‘Can we go now?’ Joni asked.
‘Yes,’ Melanie said, relieved it was over.
‘Come and talk to me if you have any concerns,’ Frank said, as the twins hurried out of the room.
Melanie stood up. ‘Wow, they really hate me.’
‘No, they don’t. They’re upset. They need to process the news. I’m sure they’ll have questions and concerns – no one wants their parents to break up. We need to be extra sensitive to their needs for the next while.’
‘I think we’ve done everything to make it as seamless and pain-free as possible,’ Melanie reminded him. ‘Their lives won’t change much at all.’
‘Their mother is moving out. It’s a big deal, Melanie.’
Melanie sighed. ‘Okay, yes, it is a bit of a shock, but they’ll be fine, Frank, once they realize that day-to-day their lives are the same.’
‘I hope so. I’ll miss you,’ Frank said.
Melanie reached for his hand. ‘Me too, but we know we’re doing the right thing.’
Her phone buzzed. She let go of his hand and picked it up to take the call.