“Bye, darling.”
Francis scuttled away, and Jean looked ahead at the coffee shop where she could see David still sitting. She pulled up her window and sped out of the car park.
Chapter 7
The following afternoon, Jean agreed to pick William and Jack up from school. Emma said she was meeting a friend and wouldn’t be back to give the children their dinner. Jean was glad for the opportunity to spend some time with her grandsons. As she stood at the school gates and watched the number of children rush to their parents, anticipation filled her as she waited for her boys. Seeing children—especially the boys—reminded her of Eddie. It was like she was transported back to when Eddie was six years old and starting his life in school.
“Nana!” she heard her grandsons shout as they charged towards her. William ran into her open arms first, followed by Jack. Jean squeezed them, almost not wanting to let them go.
“I’ve missed you both so much,” Jean said. “How are you?”
“Good,” William said.
“Love you, Nana,” Jack said.
Jean kissed their cheeks and led them to her car. Once she got them inside, she put on their seat belts and then got into the driver’s seat.
“How about a burger boys?” Jean asked them.
“Emma said we’re not allowed to have burgers,” William told her.
She looked at them both, shocked at their answer. She’d always taken them for a burger as a treat. It was one of the reasons they loved spending time with her.
“Why can’t you have burgers?” Jean asked.
“She says eating meat is wrong,” Jack replied.
“Right,” Jean said. “Well, I’m sure one burger won’t hurt. Just keep it between you and Nana, yeah?”
The boys nodded with enthusiasm, and Jean started up the ignition.
“So, how was school today?” Jean asked as she turned out of the schoolyard.
“It was okay,” Jack said.
William and Jack were twins. They were not identical and weren't the first set of twins in the family. Jean’s grandfather was a twin, as was her mother. The boys resembled Eddie with their peacock green eyes and caramel coloured hair. Jack was the spirited one of the two, like Eddie. William was more reserved and sensitive like Rebecca.
“When are we going home?” Jack asked.
“You mean with Emma?” Jean asked.
“Emma and Charlie?” Jack said.
Jean tried to keep her focus on the road as she drove. “Charlie? Who’s Charlie?”
“Emma’s boyfriend,” William said.
“Emma’s what?” Jean asked.
“Her boyfriend,” William said. “He lives with us now. She said he’s our new daddy.”
Jean had no idea how she kept driving and how she kept her composure while she took the boys for a burger in Kirkstall. Once they arrived home, they sat in front of the TV and watched a children’s program. When Derek arrived home, he came into the lounge, and the boys ran up to him.
“Hello, boys,” he said as enfolded them in a hug.
“Nana took us for a burger,” Jack told him.
Jean shushed him by putting her finger at her lip. “I thought that was a secret, Jack.”
“Why is it a secret?” Derek asked.
“Emma’s doesn’t agree with them eating meat, apparently,” Jean said.
Derek smiled slightly. “What time are we taking them back?”
Jean stood up and ushered Derek into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” Derek asked her.
Jean closed the door. “I can’t believe it.”
“What?”
“Emma has a new boyfriend.”
“She what?”
“Yes. The boys told me this earlier in the car. His name is Charlie, apparently. Derek, she’s moved him into the house.”
“Are you sure?”
“The boys told me this. Why would they make it up?”
“Okay. It just sounds a bit strange.”
“She is strange.”
“Jean!”
“Jean, nothing. Our son is barely dead in his grave, and she’s moving her fancy man into his house. How dare she, Derek? How dare her!”
Derek rubbed her shoulder. “Don't get wound up about it.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because we don’t want to upset the boys.”
“I want them to stay here tonight,” Jean said. “I’ll take them to school in the morning.”
“They’ve been left in Emma’s care.”
“I don’t care. I don’t want Emma or her boyfriend anywhere near my grandchildren.”
Derek nodded and went into the hall and called Emma. When he returned, he closed the door.
“What did she say?” Jean asked.
“She said the boys can stay here tonight, but we must bring them home tomorrow.”
“Home,” Jean said.
“Listen, Jean. We don’t want to get into a fight with Emma over those kids. She is their stepmother and guardian. And they seem well cared for.”
“That’s not the point. She has disrespected our son’s memory.”
“Look, Jean, we don’t want to upset the boys. Let’s just leave it for now. We’ll talk about it tomorrow with Emma.”
That night, Jean couldn’t sleep. Her chest was tight, and she couldn’t stop sweating. Getting out of the bed, she looked at Derek asleep. She then went into the spare bedroom and glanced at William and Jack. They were asleep on the two single beds in there. She didn't want to wake them, so she closed the door gently, and went down the stairs into the kitchen. She looked inside the kitchen cupboard for a glass and noticed that there was a pack of chocolate flapjacks in there. Jean was very careful with sugar, and she insisted that Derek not have much sugar because he had high blood sugar. Where had these snacks had come? Pouring herself a glass of water, she fanned herself. It wasn’t that warm in the house. It was the middle of October so she couldn’t understand where the heat was coming from. Suddenly, she felt herself becoming really emotional. She wanted to burst into tears.
She remembered feeling like this the night she heard Eddie had been killed in a car accident. She kept seeing flashes of Eddie in his car swerving off the road. It was like it was happening again. Eddie just kept flashing in front of her.
She moved into the living where she closed the door. Going over to the couch, she sat and picked up the phone. She dialled a number. When Sierra answered, she sounded tired.
“Hello?”
“Sierra, it’s me, Jean.”
“Jean Saunders?”
“Sorry to call you so late,” Jean said.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. I shouldn’t have called. Sorry. Bye.”
Jean put the phone down and rested back in the chair. She felt so stupid for calling Sierra. She’d never be able to look her in the eye again. Getting up, Jean went back upstairs to the bedroom where Derek was stirring. He raised himself from the bed when he noticed her standing in front of him.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Jean smiled slightly and got into the bed. “Go back to sleep. I’m alright.”
Jean rested her head on the pillow. She didn’t fall back to sleep. She just stared at the ceiling. She never slept again that night.
The following morning, Jean prepared breakfast for the boys. William and Jack sat at the table.
“Are we going home today, Nana?” William asked.
“Yes, darling. After school.”
Jean poured some cornflakes into two bowls, and then added the milk. She was still nervous about her tense phone call to Sierra. But, she didn’t want the boys to notice, so she tried to remain calm.
“Why did we stay here?” Jack asked.
“Emma was a little tired last night after seeing her friend. So, I said I’d look after you both until this afternoon. I don’t mind. I’ve loved having you both.”
The boys didn’t respond as favourably as Jea
n would have liked. They obviously liked Emma. She sat at the kitchen table and poured herself some coffee. Jean had awakened with a headache that morning, and it had gotten worse. Derek came into the kitchen. He was running late.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Morning,” Jean said. “Would you like some toast?”
“No time, love. I’ve get to get to work.”
“You have to eat something.”
“I’ll grab something on the way.”
“I can make you something now. It won’t take me five minutes.”
“Jean, please don’t fuss.”
They both looked at the boys and then Derek kissed her on the cheek. “I’m sorry, love. I’ve got to go.”
“Okay.”
“We’ll take the boys back when I come home from work. It’s best if we do it together.”
What Derek really meant was he didn’t want Jean saying something to upset Emma. Their daughter-in-law was carrying on with another man hours after her husband was killed. Jean had every right to be upset.
“Fine,” Jean said.
Derek kissed the boys goodbye and then rushed through the front door. Jean sat at the kitchen table, smiled tiredly at the boys, and drank her coffee. How was Emma going to talk her way out of this?
Jean picked the children up from school that afternoon and made them fish fingers, chips, and peas for dinner. Once she'd fed the boys, they sat on the couch and watched television. An hour later, Derek had returned home from work. He showered and dressed, and then Jean drove them over to Emma’s house.
“I don’t know why we can’t just take them back home. Our home.”
“Jean, I’ve told you.”
“I know what you’ve told me. And I’m telling you. They should be with us.”
Jean glanced at William and Jack in the back seat. She loved them both so much.
“Let’s not talk about it in front of the kids, Jean.”
They got out of the car, and Jean ushered the boys up the front path. Jean spotted Emma watching them through the large bay windows. When Emma opened the front door, she rushed towards the boys and enfolded them in her arms.
“William, Jack. I’ve missed you both so much.”
Jean side glanced at Derek. “Hello Emma?”
“Hello, Jean? Derek? Come in?”
Emma led them into the hall, and Jean noticed she had redecorated. Eddie's magnolia walls were now sage green, and his cream carpet was now shiny wood flooring.
“You’ve decorated,” Jean said.
“Yeah. I wanted to add a splash of colour to the house. Nobody wants to live with boring plain colours do they?”
“It looks nice,” Derek said.
Jean said nothing. Emma led them into the living room which had also changed. A huge flat screen TV took up the centre wall above the fireplace. The dining table, couches and bookshelves had all upgraded. It was like a different house.
“Sit down,” Emma said. “I’ll make coffee.”
“Not for me thanks,” Derek said.
“Jean?” Emma asked.
It was a while before Jean answered. “What?”
“Would you like some coffee?” Emma asked.
“No thank you.”
“Right. If you’ll excuse me a minute.”
Emma left them for a while. Jean and Derek sat on the large corner couch. Glancing at the walls, Jean noticed that every picture of Eddie had gone. They had taken even the picture of Emma and Eddie on their wedding day down.
“Everything has changed,” Jean said.
“How do you mean?” Derek asked.
“The house. It looks different.”
“She wants to make a fresh start.”
“And that’s okay?” Jean said. “Where are all the pictures of Eddie?”
“Jean?”
Emma came back into the room. “Sorry about that. I thought the kids should stay upstairs while we talked.”
“That’s fine,” Derek said.
“I’m sorry I must look a mess,” Emma said. She put her hand through her blonde hair and then tied it up in a bun.
“How was your friend?” Derek asked.
“She’s fine. She’s getting married.”
“That’s lovely,” Derek said. “New start for her.”
“Yeah. She’s thrilled.”
Jean cleared her throat. “Have you got a friend?”
Emma turned her head to a side. “A friend?”
“A boyfriend?”
“I see.”
“What does that mean?” Jean said.
“Whatever I say will be wrong isn’t it?” Emma said.
“The boys told me you’ve got a new boyfriend called Charlie and he’s moved in here with you. Is that true?”
Emma rubbed the back of her neck. “I have a friend, and I call him Charlie. But he hasn’t moved in with me.”
“The boys say he has,” Jean asked.
“Jean?” Derek said.
“They misheard me. Eddie told me they can be a little economical with the truth. Especially William.”
Jean glared at Emma with narrowed eyes. “Those boys do not lie.”
“Look, Emma,” Derek said. “We know how lonely it must be for you now that Eddie has gone. We wouldn’t want you to be alone. But the boys are our priority.”
“Of course,” Emma said.
“We have to put them first,” Jean said.
“I don't want to upset you both. You’ve been so good to me. But you’re right, Derek. I am lonely. Losing Eddie was the worst thing ever. Charlie is my friend. We've known each other since college. That's all he is, a friend.”
Jean didn’t buy her story. Emma didn’t seem the woman to remain friends with a guy. And she doubted her grandsons had misheard her. She was lying, not them.
“I understand, Emma,” Derek said. “Eddie’s death has affected all of us.”
“That doesn’t give her the right to cavort with another man when my son is barely cold is in his grave,” Jean said.
“I’ve told you, Jean. Charlie is a friend. Not that it's any of your business.”
“I beg your pardon?” Jean asked.
“I married to Eddie not you,” Emma said. “You have no right to interrogate me.”
Jean slapped her hands on the couch. “You’re still married.”
“I am widowed.”
“Look, this is not getting us anywhere,” Derek said.
“I don’t want my grandchildren staying here,” Jean said.
“I’m sorry,” Emma replied.
“You heard me.”
“Jean?” Derek said.
“I don’t think that’s your decision to make, Jean,” Emma said.
“They’re my grandchildren.”
“I’m their guardian. Eddie left them in my care.”
“They’re Eddie’s children. Eddie and Rebecca’s. They’re nothing to do with you.”
Emma stood up. “I love those boys, and I want the best for them. Right now I don’t think that's you.”
“I’m sorry?”
“What do you mean?” Derek said.
“I mean I think it’s best you don’t see them for a while.”
“What?” Jean said.
“You’re clearly distressed, Jean. That's why you're seeing a therapist.”
Jean gazed at Derek.
“What therapy?” Derek asked.
“I’m sorry, didn’t you know, Derek?” Emma asked.
“You know he didn’t,” Jean said.
“What is she talking about?”
“I’ve been having counselling,” Jean said. “I needed to talk to someone.”
“Why couldn’t you talk to me?” Derek asked.
“I tried.”
“Not hard enough. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m sorry, Derek. This is all part of her plan. She told you on purpose to make me look a fool.”
“Jean, don’t do this,” Emma said.
“This is
nothing to do with Emma,” Derek said. “This is about us. You should have told me.”
“I think you both need to go home and talk. I’ll be in touch.”
“About the boys?” Derek said.
“I’ll be in touch,” Emma said.
Derek hugged Emma but Jean didn’t. Once they were outside and in the car, Jean put on her seatbelt. Emma stood at the front door and watched them. Derek waved at her but Jean gave her a slow, disbelieving head shake. Emma gave her a cold, sinister smile.
When they arrived home, Jean went into the kitchen to put the kettle on. Derek went upstairs, and when he returned, Jean was sitting at the kitchen table looking at a picture of Eddie. Derek stood by the door.
“I’ve made some tea,” Jean said.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’ve explained why,” Jean said. “I needed someone to talk too.”
“About Eddie?”
“Of course about Eddie.”
“Not about us.”
“It’s all relative isn’t it?”
“Is it?”
“Oh please, Derek don’t be like this. You talked to Emma.”
“Emma is not a therapist. You’re talking to a complete stranger about our business, and you didn’t even think to discuss it with me first.”
“Because I know you’d react like this. Oh Derek, can’t you see what she’s doing.”
“Who?”
“Emma. She told you on purpose.”
“I had a right to know. None of this is Emma’s fault. I told you to let me deal with her, but you've made things worse.”
Jean rose to her feet. “Emma has got you wrapped around her little finger, and she knows it.”
“I just want to keep the peace, so we see our grandkids.”
“She can’t stop us seeing us the children.”
“Emma's got all the power. She’ their legal guardian.”
“We’re their grandparents. Their Eddie’s children. My Eddie.”
“Jean, if you carry on like this, you will drive everyone away. Including William and Jack.”
Derek stormed out of the kitchen and left Jean standing by the table. Jean gazed at the picture of Eddie. In her heart, she made a promise to him. She’d not let Emma take his children from her. Never.
The Perfect Wife Page 5
