Yours Unfaithfully (18 page)

When he arrived home from work the following evening Mel was in a good mood. The smell of cooking was as good as he’d been used to before their recent problems and she was as chirpy as ever.

“Guess what I’ve done?” she said.

Tim tried to think but nothing sprang to mind. “I’ve booked us two weeks’ holiday in the South of France. I went to Thomas Cook’s at lunch time and we’ve got a twenty eight foot mobile home all to ourselves on a fabulous site with a pool and everything. Amy can play tennis there and we can even go pony trekking. You just have to tell your boss that you won’t be in for two weeks, OK?”

“Mel, I heard on the news that the Air Traffic Controllers are going on strike, which means we’ll probably spend our first day at Gatwick and then get stranded in France when it’s time to come home. I wish you’d told me before you booked it.”

“Tim, I do listen to the news you know, which is why we’re going by Eurostar and then by TGV all the way to St Raphael. Don’t try to find excuses, Tim, I told you... we’re going on holiday as a family and nothing is going to stop us. We’re leaving on Saturday morning early, so make sure you put out everything you want me to pack for you. Tim, I’m so glad we’re off for two weeks. We’ve got some serious catching up to do, you know what I mean!”

She winked at him and he knew exactly what she meant. Two days ago he would have been overjoyed at her sudden change of heart, but he couldn’t get yesterday and Nina out of his mind. He needed to go round and see her. He’d have to find some excuse.

“I spoke to Ben today on the phone; I’ll go round and update Nina later.”

“Leave it Tim, she’s getting over him better than I thought she would, you don’t want to get her thinking about him again do you?”

“No I don’t, he said truthfully, but I can’t not pass on his message.”

“What message was that, what could he say that she would want to hear for God’s sake?”

The problem with lying was that it required you to lie more and more. He had to think quickly to come up with a message that Ben could have given him, but instead his mind went blank.

“So what was the message? Is he sorry for what he’s done?”

“No, not exactly, but he did ask me to tell Nina that he’s thinking of her and to remember him to the kids.”

“Are you serious Tim? You can’t bloody go round there and say that... She’ll probably kill you ... Nina, your shit husband says that while he’s bonking some teenage sex object he’s thinking of you constantly and would you remind him of the names of his kids as he’s forgotten them already.”

“Mel, that isn’t how it is at all. He does still care about them, even though he isn’t with them. I’ll be very tactful, I promise.”

“Oh OK, but don’t blame me if she sets about you.”

“I won’t Mel, but if she is upset I’ll stay until she’s OK, so I might be a while.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got clothes to wash for Saturday and all the kids’ stuff to pack. Don’t leave her on her own until she’s OK.”

“I won’t.” And with that he slipped out to head for next door.

If Tim thought that his visit to Nina would be a re-run of the previous night he was mistaken. Nina was pleased that Tim and Mel were going off on holiday for two weeks and she made a point of expressing her hopes that this would rebuild their relationship. She never mentioned what had taken place between them and when Tim left he was more confused than ever.

Had Nina simply jumped into bed with him without it meaning anything to her? Yesterday that thought would not have been possible, after he had given her the strength to recover from the scars inflicted upon her by Ben. She’d taken his help willingly and at the same time filled him with a desire to give much more of himself. Why then was she now acting like it never happened. He wanted to ask her how she felt about him, but the mood wasn’t right and he would have embarrassed both of them. After a few minutes their conversation dried up and he made to leave. At the door he gave her a kiss on the cheek, just like he would to a friend. She responded without any warmth, unlike he’d expected. A willing kiss would have confirmed their special relationship.

Confused and troubled, Tim arrived back home after ten minutes. What a contrast to last night. Had everything he’d felt been a sham? Had he imagined the racing of their pulses as they had frantically made love twenty-four hours ago? If this served to tell him anything it was that he would never understand the workings of the female mind.

“Nina’s fine”, he said lightly. “Didn’t need to stay long, she seemed perfectly OK.”

“You’re a good man, Tim; thinking about her feelings and taking care of her when Ben seems to have forgotten she exists. It makes me realise just how lucky I am.”

If there was one thing Tim didn’t need right now it was praise for spending time with Nina. If she ever found out how last night’s time had been spent, their relationship would be over faster than he could say ‘sorry’.

He found it hard to concentrate on work the next day and when he heard Ben’s voice on his mobile he was filled with guilt. He was so certain his voice alone would confess everything. He said, “Hi Ben, how are you?” but in his head it sounded like “Sorry Ben, I slept with your wife the other night but it’s over now and she doesn’t even mention it any more”.

Ben, though, was his usual carefree self and was only ringing with an update on his affair with Beckie.

“This is the real thing, Tim. I’m serious, we are so good together there’s no way now that I could go back to Neen and her constant moaning at me. Beckie likes me the way I am. She isn’t trying to turn me into something that I’m not. She’s brilliant, which is why I’m ringing, you’ve got to meet her. How about a game or two down the Globe tonight?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Ben, what will Nina think of me if I meet you and Beckie?”

“Who cares what Nina thinks? You know how she is. Anyway she always told me that she thought you were as useless as me, so sod her. Nina is the one who puts all those ideas in Mel’s head. You should think about that. When they get together Nina doesn’t just put me down, she puts you down as well. She hates men ...that’s her trouble, she’s cold blooded and bloody minded. You want to stop Mel going round there; it’s her that’s filling Mel’s mind with all this stuff about you not being a good husband. She thinks every husband is no good. She’s going to find out just how lonely it can get when she’s got no one to turn to... and serve her bloody right. I’ll see you tonight, about seven, OK?”

“OK, Ben, but I don’t think you’re entirely right about Nina.”

“Of course I am, she’s a bitch and I’m well shot of her. See you later.”

Perhaps Nina is a bitch, after all she took me in the other night, made me think we had something special and then last night acted like she barely knew me. Christ, why are women so devious? Tim thought back to all the advice Ben had proffered on women and on marriage. It seemed he was right in most of what he’d said and he’d certainly got his own life sorted out with this Beckie. It would be interesting to meet her and see just what she was really like.

Over his evening meal he broached the subject of Ben and Beckie being in the Globe.

“I heard from Ben today.”

“Why do you sound so surprised, he phoned you yesterday didn’t he?”

Sod it; he’d forgotten last night’s lie. “Yes, I just meant he phoned with something special to say today.”

“Special? What could be special about that big creep?”

“Hang on Mel, Nina’s not exactly without blame in all of this. If she hadn’t treated Ben like shit he would still be living next door. She can change with the wind that one, nice to you one minute and ignoring you the next. I don’t blame Ben for saying enough is enough.”

“You’ve changed your tune haven’t you? Two nights ago you spent an entire evening helping her get over that bastard and now you’re singing his praises! The trouble with men is they’re never consistent – you can’t believe a word they say from one day to the next. I’d expect that from him but not from you. The best thing you can do is stay away from him, let him stew in his own bloody juice, let him rot with his floosy but whatever you do don’t encourage him.”

“Well that’s what he phoned me for; he wants me to meet Beckie down the Globe tonight.”

“You are joking… I hope! Why the hell would you want to meet her... or is she bringing a friend along for you to try?”

“Stop this, Mel, Ben’s my mate and just as you like to spend evening after evening listening to all that propaganda from her-next-door about Ben, and letting her poison your mind about me, I want to spend some time with him, and if he’s moved on from Nina then I don’t blame him. I’m not going to turn my back on him because he’s found affection with someone else. It’s just a pity she hadn’t kept her mouth shut every time he walked in the house and it’s a pity she fills your head with the so called faults of mine. I know it’s because of her that we’ve been struggling these past months. It should be
me
saying I don’t want
you
going round
there
.”

“Try it Tim, try telling me who I can bloody talk to. I thought you’d changed, I was looking forward to us going away together on Saturday, but how can I go away with someone as two-faced as you? We’re right back to where we were two weeks ago, Tim, and it’s your fault. I hope you’re bloody pleased with yourself.”

Melanie left her half eaten meal and slammed upstairs. Tim sat staring at his plate and wondering how he’d got into this mess. He finished his meal, but now it was tasteless. He couldn’t face going upstairs and having another confrontation, so he put his plate in the dishwasher, picked up his coat and closed the kitchen door behind him.

When Ben arrived with Beckie he looked as happy as the proverbial pig in shit. Not that anything ever got Ben down for long. He was so easy going problems simply went over his head. Was this a quality? It certainly saved him from getting stressed about things that would have Tim lying awake half the night. Tim moved his glance from Ben to the woman standing at his side. She was beautiful, that was undeniable, and young. She seemed to be as happy as Ben was and they had an air of togetherness that made Tim jealous. How could he be jealous of his best friend, a friend who deserved a bit of luck after putting up with the wife from hell for all those years? Ah yes, the wife he’d been pleased to sleep with just two nights ago. As he shook hands with Beckie he was aware of yet another physical contact, the touching of hands. It meant nothing to Beckie, but Tim thought how his hands had touched Nina and how she had touched him back.

“Ben’s told me all about you”, she said with a cheeky grin. “Well, probably not everything. I expect you’ve got a skeleton in your cupboard, like most men.”

It was as if she knew about him and Nina, as if she was teasing him. He wiped the sweat from his brow and pretended to laugh at such a suggestion.

“Oh yes, I’ve got more skeletons than the British Museum.”

Ben joined in. “What you? He’s so squeaky clean, Beckie, that if a woman invited him into her bedroom he’d have to phone his wife first to ask her permission.”

Ben chuckled at his own attempt at humour, but Tim was disturbed at the nearness to the truth.

“How’s the job going?” he said, trying to change the subject.

“Oh great, better than being a storeman, Tim. Sorry mate, but I couldn’t have stuck that for five minutes.”

“That’s OK. I’m glad to see you settled in a job you like. How’s Sophie?”

“She’s OK, she sends her love. She’s off somewhere tonight. How are things with you and Mel? Is it still the same?”

“Well it did get better, briefly, but when I told her I was meeting you tonight she threw a wobbly and I’m right back in it again.”

“Don’t put up with it Tim, I’m serious. Come out clubbing with us on Saturday night. Beckie’ll sort you out with one of her mates, won’t you Babe?”

“Yea, no problem. A good looking bloke like you, Tim; they’d be fighting over you. You can always stay with us if it’s getting too much at home.”

Tim tried to imagine living in a tiny flat with Ben and Beckie, but it was too horrible to contemplate. “Yes, OK, I’ll bear that in mind.”

They played pool and talked until Jim shouted last orders. “We’d better be going,” Ben said, “work in the morning.”

They said good night and Tim set off for home with a heavy heart. He crept in and tried to use the bathroom without waking Melanie, then slid gently into bed alongside her.

“So what was Beckie like?”

“I thought you were asleep.”

“I was, you woke me up.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. What was Beckie like?”

“She’s really nice. Very different to Nina.”

“You mean she’s half Nina’s age, young enough to be Ben’s daughter?”

“No, that isn’t what I meant. She’s a lovely person. They’re very happy together.”

“Invited you to the wedding, did they or will the christening be first?”

“Mel, it’s their life, why can’t you just be happy for them?”

“And are you happy for Nina?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You know, Nina, lady who lives next door? Her husband just left her... what about her?”

Tim didn’t like the direction in which this conversation was going. Melanie had spent the evening with Nina. Could she have said anything about Monday night?

“Nina will find someone else, Mel, that’s what happens when people split up.”

“Oh is it? So you think Nina will find someone else in two minutes flat do you?”

Well yes actually, he thought to himself. “Of course not, but in time she’ll move on, just like Ben has.”

“Move on? ... You use that expression as if it fixes everything. She’s breaking her heart over a man who’s walked out on her and her children and you can fix it all with three words... She’ll move on. She’s not a bloody bus stuck in a traffic jam, you idiot, she’s a woman. She has all the feelings of a woman. You could never begin to understand.”

“I understand her perfectly. She’s upset now, but she’ll get over it, she’ll probably use anyone she meets for her own ends and then she’ll eventually find some other poor bugger to fix onto, and then she’ll start all over again. She’s not as innocent as you make her out to be Mel. Trust me!”