The Desperate Wife’s Survival Plan

by Alison Sherlock

  Samantha glanced around but couldn’t see Charley or Caroline anywhere. So she walked back into the main dining hall to see if she could spot Richard. She knew he was here somewhere, despite his protestations that he wouldn’t be attending the ball.

  Trouble was, she was certain he was lying a lot to her these days. The old words of love and flattery had been less frequently used in the past month or so. There had been a change in their relationship and she wasn’t sure she liked the way it was going.

  Samantha walked around the room, keeping to the back wall. Then she saw him. Richard was always good-looking, but in his tuxedo he was breathtaking.

  She stared at him, willing him to turn around and see her. She had spent a fortune on her sexy, backless black dress and knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her when he saw her. If he saw her.

  She watched as he stood with a couple of people, roaring with laughter at someone’s joke. God but she loved him. She loved him so much it hurt. She wanted him body and soul, every hour of every day. Nothing else would satisfy her, nobody else ever would again.

  Samantha made her decision. She would make him see her. She would walk up to him in front of everyone at the ball and show him that she was no longer going to be messed around. That he loved her and was going to spend the rest of his life with her.

  But as she began to move through the crowd towards him, she realised Richard had his arm around the petite dark-haired woman standing next to him. Samantha took a deep intake of breath. It was the wife, of that she was sure. Well, it was time she found out that her husband was leaving her.

  They were hidden from view for a moment as a group of people passed in front of her. But when the way was clear once more, Samantha stopped short.

  Richard and his wife had turned around and were heading for the door. She had a perfect view of them both as they walked away together, laughing softly. The realisation of all his lies and deceit suddenly hit Samantha, causing her to fight for breath.

  Richard’s wife was heavily pregnant.

  Chapter Eighty-five

  CHARLEY WAS UNAWARE of the romantic developments for Julie and Caroline. In fact, she was quite drunk so she was unaware of most things, except that Julie had disappeared a very long time ago and hadn’t come back.

  She was slumped in a chair, staring at the people around her in a daze.

  Her mother peered at her closely. ‘Are you all right? Is your dress too tight?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Your ice-cream is a triumph!’ said Aunty Peggy in a loud voice.

  ‘This whole evening has been marvellous!’ slurred Maureen.

  Her father was designated driver and therefore sober, which might have meant he had a different perspective on the evening. He had been keeping count of the number of glasses of champagne drunk by his wife until it had crept into double figures.

  ‘Shall we go home soon, love?’ he said, in a hopeful tone.

  But his question fell on deaf ears.

  ‘I’m so proud of you,’ said Maureen, patting her daughter on the arm.

  ‘Thanks, Mum. You know I’m still going to pay you back the money, don’t you?’

  ‘Don’t think about it tonight.’

  ‘I think I’ll see if Julie’s on the dance floor,’ said Charley, slowly standing up. She smiled as she looked around with hazy eyes. ‘I love you, Mum,’ she said, swaying slightly from side to side. ‘Even your cooking.’

  ‘I love you too, darling.’ Maureen was looking a little cross-eyed. ‘And what do you mean about my cooking?’

  Charley staggered off, managing to negotiate her way through the entrance hall and into the ballroom. It was past midnight and the disco was now into pure pop mode, currently playing ‘It’s Raining Men’. Charley peered through the flashing lights, trying to make out if she could see Julie, but she was having trouble focussing.

  Until a very familiar man materialised in front of her.

  ‘Hello,’ said Steve.

  ‘Hi,’ replied Charley in amazement.

  He glanced at her cleavage before breaking into one of his killer smiles. ‘You look incredible.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  He looked good too in his dinner jacket.

  ‘I hear the ice-cream business is going well,’ he told her.

  She nodded. ‘I think so.’

  ‘Good for you. You deserve it, you know.’

  Charley didn’t know what to say so just smiled back at him.

  To her surprise, Steve suddenly took her in his arms and pulled her close to him. ‘I’ve missed you.’

  ‘Have you been drinking?’ she giggled.

  He shook his head, giving her a crooked smile. ‘Not that much. And not as much as you, by the looks of it. Hey, I’ve been thinking. We should make a go of it again.’

  Charley’s mouth dropped open. ‘What? Why?’

  He shrugged his shoulders. ‘I dunno. Could be fun.’

  She couldn’t believe it. The decree absolut divorce papers had arrived only that week.

  ‘Steve,’ she said, shaking her head.

  ‘Look, your business is doing well,’ he carried on. ‘We won’t make such a mess of this one. I promise.’

  ‘What about Susie?’

  ‘She’s long gone,’ he told her, reaching out to brush her cheek. ‘Think about it. We could have our lovely life back. Great house. A couple of decent cars. What about that Range Rover you were always lusting after?’

  She sighed. ‘That stuff’s not important to me any more, Steve.’

  ‘So what is?’

  And suddenly she knew. She finally admitted to herself what her heart had been trying to tell her for so long.

  She stared at her ex-husband for a long time before kissing him on the cheek.

  ‘Goodbye, Steve.’

  Then Charley walked away.

  Chapter Eighty-six

  SHE WALKED BACK across the entrance hall, deep in thought. Romantic music drifted across from the ballroom, tugging at her heart.

  ‘Charlotte?’ came her father’s voice from nearby.

  She went over to where her family were standing, feeling unsteady on her feet.

  ‘I’m taking your mother and Peggy home.’ Her father grimaced as he glanced over to the two women who had linked arms for support. ‘Do you want a lift?’

  ‘I’ll take her home, if you like,’ said Mike, suddenly materialising next to them.

  Charley stared at up at him in shock. She had failed to spot him all evening. She glanced around. Was he alone? It appeared so.

  ‘Thanks, son.’ Her father sighed before giving Charley a kiss. ‘Take care, love. Good night.’

  There was a small skirmish whilst Maureen and Peggy were persuaded to leave the party. Having watched them finally leave, Charley spun round to face Mike. But she was a little too quick and swayed at the sudden rush of blood to the head.

  Mike reached out to steady her.

  ‘Hello,’ he said, but he wasn’t smiling.

  ‘Hi,’ she told him, suddenly feeling shy. His hands on her bare arms were making her skin tingle.

  ‘Are you all right?’

  Charley gave him a bashful smile. ‘I might have had a little bit too much champagne.’

  ‘Is that why I saw you with Steve?’ His grip on her arms became tighter, harder.

  She shook her head, which made the room swim. ‘It’s over,’ she told him. ‘It’s been over for a very long time.’

  He stared down at her before saying, ‘Let’s get you home.’

  ‘I can’t leave yet. I don’t know where Julie is.’

  Mike broke into a grin. ‘I saw her leave with that Aussie vet.’

  Charley’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Really? Wow.’ She recalled Caroline telling her to be brave so took a deep breath. ‘Maybe we could have a drink to celebrate my success?’

  But he shook his head. ‘I don’t think there’s any left. You’ve drunk the place dry.’

  Her head drooped. He had
said no. He didn’t want her any more. She had waited too long to trust him.

  Mike took her hand and began to lead her towards the main entrance. ‘Come on.’

  She went with him, feeling more miserable than she had done in a long time. They got into one of the waiting taxis. As they were driven away, Charley glanced back at the castle, wondering if tonight had changed anything at all. She glanced across at Mike and, finding him watching her, shuffled in her seat.

  ‘Did you like the ice-cream?’ she asked, desperate to break the lengthy silence.

  ‘It was great,’ he told her. ‘You should be proud of yourself.’

  ‘Let’s hope Lord and Lady Beckenham agree with you.’ Charley began to unpin her hair and let it down.

  ‘They will. They’re surprisingly nice.’

  Charley stared at him. ‘You know them?’

  ‘I bump into them on occasion when I help out in the gardens.’

  An idea was trying to force its way through her champagne-fogged brain. ‘Wait,’ she said, rubbing her forehead. ‘Does that mean . . . ?’

  Her voice trailed off. He wouldn’t have . . . couldn’t have, surely?

  But glancing back at him, she saw Mike nodding. ‘I was the one who recommended your ice-cream for the dinner tonight.’

  The taxi journey flew by in silence after that. All too soon they were outside the flats. The taxi drove off, leaving them standing in silence in front of the building.

  Charley walked up to the front door, tripping up the first step before turning to face Mike. She was surprised to find him standing so near, their faces so close.

  ‘I can’t believe it was you who suggested my desserts for tonight,’ she blurted out.

  He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Thought it might help.’

  She shook her head in wonder. ‘Why are you being so nice to me?’

  She looked deep into his eyes, which was a mistake. In the streetlight, they were the colour of melted plain chocolate and she found she couldn’t look away.

  ‘Because I thought you needed a friend to help you out,’ he told her.

  Charley felt even more despondent. Was that all they were? Friends?

  Be brave, she heard Caroline telling her.

  She leant forward and placed her hands against his broad chest. Beneath her fingers, she could feel his heart beating.

  ‘I want you to know that I’ve drunk a lot of champagne tonight,’ she told him.

  ‘What are you saying?’

  She moved her face closer to his. ‘I’ve drunk a lot of champagne so I can’t be responsible for my actions.’ Her gaze dropped to his mouth. ‘So don’t forget that.’

  ‘I won’t,’ he told her, looking bemused by her words.

  She reached up and kissed him. She had only meant it to be a brief kiss, something that would prove to her once and for all that they were only meant to be friends. That he meant nothing to her after all. But once their lips had met, she found she couldn’t stop kissing him.

  For a brief moment he kissed her back, strong and hard, and she was lost. But then she found herself being pushed very gently away from him.

  ‘Charley,’ he murmured, shaking his head.

  Her cheeks were flaming with horror. He didn’t want her. He didn’t feel the same way.

  ‘It was just the champagne,’ she told him, breaking into wide, fake grin. ‘I did warn you! Anyway,’ she carried on, the words coming out in a rush, ‘it’s been a big day so I’ll say goodnight.’

  He watched her until she finally managed on the third attempt to get the key into the lock.

  ‘Goodnight,’ he said in a soft tone.

  ‘Goodnight,’ she called over her shoulder, unable to face making eye contact with him.

  Closing the door to the flat behind her, Charley leant back against it. She brought her hands up to her lips. The kiss had been, oh, so sweet. But only for her, it seemed.

  She put her hands over her eyes and began to cry.

  Chapter Eighty-seven

  IT WASN’T POSSIBLE to feel this bad without being dead, decided Charley.

  She had barely been able to drag herself out of bed and had only made it as far as the kitchen so far. She was on her second cup of coffee and her third piece of toast. That helped repair much of the physical damage from the previous evening’s champagne. However, the mental wounds were still gaping.

  Oh, yes, it was all coming back to her now, detail by horrifying detail. She had rejected Steve, that was good. Her ice-cream had, hopefully, been a success. That was even better. But Mike . . . Her lovely, wonderful, handsome Mike. She touched her lips briefly as she remembered kissing him. She couldn’t stop seeing him shaking his head at her as he had pushed her away. He probably still thought she was a spoilt brat, miserable because she was no longer rich. Maybe he was even laughing to himself that morning about just how drunk she had been.

  Her heart was broken. More so than it had been with Steve, she knew. Mike was worth a thousand Steves.

  Maybe he had called or texted her. Even a message of friendship would be better than nothing. She felt a tiny flicker of hope as she picked up the evening handbag slung on the floor in the hallway where she had left it the previous night

  But the screen on her phone showed only two missed phone calls from Caroline.

  ‘Hi,’ she said when Charley rang her back. ‘How’s the head?’

  Charley slumped into her armchair. ‘Like it’s still trying to reject the rest of my body.’

  ‘Good night, was it?’

  ‘Far too much champagne.’

  ‘No wonder I can’t get hold of Julie either.’

  Charley shook her head and then decided that was a very bad idea. ‘She disappeared quite early on.’

  ‘Any gossip I should know about?’

  ‘I think she was with Wes.’

  ‘Excellent!’ said Caroline. ‘But I meant you.’

  ‘Nothing,’ said Charley with a sigh.

  ‘You’re lying. But for now, tell me about the ice-cream. I’ve already had an email from Lady Beckenham to say how thrilled they were with the desserts.’

  Charley closed her eyes, trying to hold back her emotions. It was all because of Mike that she had been given the business at Grove Castle in the first place.

  ‘Hello?’ called Caroline down the line. ‘Did you hear what I said? You’re going to be very busy from now on.’

  Charley clutched her head. ‘Can I have a couple of days off first to recover?’

  ‘I don’t see why not,’ Caroline told her. ‘You’ve been working seven day weeks for months. Give yourself a bit of time off. Recharge the batteries before all the new orders come flooding in, especially after everyone hears about Lady Beckenham’s recommendation.’

  ‘That food critic from the newspaper was there too, apparently.’

  ‘Okay,’ said Caroline, sounding a little more unsure. ‘Well, I’m sure that will be all right.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  Once Caroline had said goodbye, Charley shuffled into the kitchen once more to consider another piece of toast. She really hadn’t eaten an awful lot at the Valentine’s Ball, which might not be helping the headache disappear.

  She clicked a piece of bread into the toaster and waited whilst it warmed up. She stared vacantly at the free local newspaper which had appeared the previous day on her front doormat and had only got as far as being thrown into the kitchen by Julie when she had arrived.

  Charley picked up the paper to flick idly through the pages, anything to take her mind off Mike. But an envelope wafted on to the floor as she moved the newspaper.

  Thinking it was probably one of those blank mailshots, she gave it a cursory glance. But it was an official-looking letter, in a typed envelope addressed to her. It must have been hidden under the freebie newspaper the whole of the previous day. Charley bent down to retrieve it from the floor, her head immediately feeling like it would burst into flames.

  She stared at the envelope as she str
aightened up. It looked official. Scary, even. God, she didn’t need any bad news today.

  But when she ripped open the envelope, she found it was from the Official Receiver. The representative of the bankruptcy court had concluded his enquiries into her affairs and would file a notice of early discharge in court.

  The court date was the following Tuesday. In two days’ time, Charley would be free from the bankruptcy which had hung over her for nearly ten months.

  She continued to stare at the letter, but the words swam before her as her eyes filled up with tears. The hangover was all but forgotten.

  She was being given a new start. Any future financial mistakes would be down to her, but she knew she wouldn’t be risking anything from now onwards. Financial insecurity had been a dreadful, debilitating feeling that had dragged her down for many months.

  She glanced out of the kitchen window and saw brightly coloured crocuses beginning to appear in the ground outside. Spring was nearly here. A new season for a new start.

  She just wished she had Mike to share it with.

  Chapter Eighty-eight

  ‘IT’S BEGINNING TO settle,’ said Jeff, looking out of the patio window on Monday afternoon.

  The sky was a grey infinity, filled with snow. On the ground, a dusting of white powder was beginning to change the landscape.

  ‘Flora’s going to want to play outside when she gets home,’ he said. ‘Where are her wellies?’

  ‘She’s staying at Molly’s house for tea,’ said Caroline.

  Jeff spun round in surprise. ‘I thought that was tomorrow?’

  ‘It was,’ replied Caroline. ‘But my waters just broke.’

  His mouth fell open. It was only then that he registered that his wife was wearing her coat.

  ‘So I’ve rung Molly’s mum and it’s all sorted.’ Caroline was cool and calm.

  Jeff, on the other hand, was a bag of nerves as he rushed around the house, checking that the back door was locked and the door of the wood burning stove was shut tight.