happened, and when I felt the
bottom sheet it was still warm – somebody had lain there for quite a while. I
closed the door and went to my room to change."
"That could mean anything, my dear."
"I agree, and that's what I told myself, so I put on a brave
face and went down to join them in the sitting room, where mother had just
brought in a tray of tea and biscuits."
I said to Grant, "How come you're home so early?"
"Oh, I've only been in about ten minutes before you. It was
quiet at work so I took the rest of the day off."
"My immediate thoughts were that he knew I was with Patricia
and wouldn't be home until late that evening, so taking the time off work to go
home early didn't make sense. Anyway, I said nothing and after a while I turned
to mother."
"What have you been doing today, Mom?"
"I was busy cleaning the house all morning, had a bite of
lunch and went over to that new supermarket in the town centre. I spent more
money than I could afford, of course, and got home about five minutes after Grant."
"I replied before she had chance to wonder why I was asking
the questions"
"Oh, you have had a busy day. What did you get in the
supermarket? We haven't been there for weeks, have we Grant."
She looked up at Joyce, and said, "From there it was
conversation as normal, and nothing more was said, but they were both lying. Grant
had been home for a long time, because when I walked up the path I stopped to
take a stone out of my shoe, and rested my hand on the bonnet of his old car,
and it was stone cold. It overheats terribly, and stays hot for a long time,
and if he'd been home only a few minutes before me, I would know it."
Joyce said, "Well, you may be right, but surely that once
incident is not proof."
"You're right; the proof was the change in their attitude
over the next few weeks, with mother being all ‘lovey-dovey' towards Grant, to
the extent of giving him extra large meals and prolonged kisses goodbye each
morning. Something she never did before – but worse, is my husband's responses
to her attentions."
"Well, perhaps separate rooms will be a good thing for both
of you."
"I'm sure it will, and I shall lock my door to make sure he
won't come in." She stood up and said, "If you don't mind, I'm going to the
bathroom, and then I shall sit in the guest room for a while, before returning
downstairs to help you with dinner in the kitchen."
Joyce watched as she walked through the curtained opening
into the bedroom, and a large smile came over her face. "This morning I
didn't know where to turn, and this afternoon a young woman has come into my
home and will hopefully distract Cyril from his office dalliances, while her
husband, whom she now spurns, has come back into my life. Interesting times are
ahead…"
CHAPTER 9
Dinner that evening was more subdued than they anticipated
when Cyril brought in the good news for Grant in the afternoon, but perhaps it
was because each person was deep in thought. The women cleared the dinner table
and went into the kitchen, while the two men set up the chessboard once again.
When they'd finished washing and drying the dishes, they
came into the sitting room to say goodnight. "I'm off to finish my book, and April
is tired after her long day, so we're both off to bed," said Joyce, plumping up
the cushions on her chair, and tidying her corner.
"Good night," said Cyril, standing up and giving both Joyce
and April a warm kiss on the cheek.
Watching him, Grant decided to follow suit, and gave Joyce a
kiss on the cheek, but when he turned to his wife, she was already going
through the door and didn't glance back. He shrugged and sat down to continue
the game, as there seemed no point in making an issue of it.
When she showed
him the second guest room before dinner, and said, "I think it better we sleep
apart for a few days, while things settle down. Besides, you'll need to be up
early and off to your new customer, it will be
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Kate Bridges
Angus Watson
S.K. Epperson
Donna White Glaser
Phil Kurthausen
Paige Toon
Amy McAuley
Madeleine E. Robins
Robert J. Sawyer, Stefan Bolz, Ann Christy, Samuel Peralta, Rysa Walker, Lucas Bale, Anthony Vicino, Ernie Lindsey, Carol Davis, Tracy Banghart, Michael Holden, Daniel Arthur Smith, Ernie Luis, Erik Wecks