Chapter 9
In the event Alice was in no hurry to leave. He had to ask her to slip out quietly by herself, when he went down to greet Meredith in the shop and get ready to open. He also had to promise to meet Alice again later in the week. He was determined there would be no sex next time, and their relationship would return to being merely a platonic one. As it happened other unexpected events soon overtook them, and threw everyone’s plans into confusion. It wasn’t to be the build-up to Christmas any of them wanted or expected. To his surprise Edward was once more to find himself being of assistance to Jill. It all started with a phone call just after 9am that Monday morning. He was slightly taken back to see Jill’s number coming up on his mobile telephone screen, but he moved quicky to answer it.
‘Is that you Edward?’ Jill asked.
Her voice sounded shaky and more than a little upset.
‘It is,’ Edward replied.
‘I’ve had a call from the residential home. Mum’s had a stroke in her sleep. They only realised when they went to check on her this morning,’ Jill explained.
‘Where is she now?’ Edward enquired.
‘She’s at the hospital, but she’s unconscious and they don’t expect her to pull through,’ Jill continued. ‘I wondered if you could come to the hospital with me. I’m not very good at things like this.’
‘Of course,’ Edward said.
He was usually good in a crisis, and had the ability to keep a calm head. He’d had to in the pressure-cooker environment of the London financial world. It had often made the difference between making a huge profit, or not. Naturally he would go to Jill’s aid now.
‘Do you want to get a train or shall I come and pick you up?’ Jill wondered.
‘It’s up to you. I can go to the station straight away. There will be a train along soon enough. Perhaps you can pick me up from Swansea Station when I get in. It will save you driving out here and risk getting caught in traffic,’ Edward suggested.
Jill was in no condition to argue.
‘Just text me when you’re on your way, and I’ll be waiting outside in the car,’ she said.
‘I’ll let you know which train I’m on,’ Edward agreed.
He was about to put the phone down, when Jill spoke again.
‘One more thing Edward. This doesn’t make everything right between us,’ she told him. ‘Nothing has changed. I’m still very upset with you.’
She’d be even more upset if she knew Alice had stayed the night with him and they’d made love again that very morning, but it wasn’t the time or place to make that particular admission.
‘I didn’t think it had,’ he said simply instead. ‘Anyway I’ll see you soon at the station.’
Edward made his apologies to Meredith, explaining Jill’s mother had been taken ill and they had to get to the hospital as a matter of urgency. Meredith assured him she’d cope on her own and not to worry about the shop. Edward was sure she would. She was very efficient. She’d find a way to manage, and would do it admirably. Edward had found a treasure in her. One day he’d pass the business over to her, when he was finally ready to retire completely. Jill was waiting in the car outside the station when he arrived. They drove straight to Morriston Hospital, where Jill’s mum, Mary, had been taken. Singleton Hospital was closer, but its intensive care facilities were insufficient for her needs. Morriston Hospital was one of the largest hospitals in Wales, although it sounded by all accounts as if Mary was beyond saving. They drove in near silence.
‘Well, it’s nice to see you,’ Edward said at last.
‘I wish I could say the same,’ Jill replied.
‘Though obviously it isn’t in the circumstances I’d have chosen,’ Edward added, thinking he might have spoken out of turn and without due use of tact. ‘What’s the latest you’ve heard about your mum?’
‘She’s still breathing, but has had a major bleed on the brain. They think it’s only a matter of time,’ Jill stated.
She was trying to put on a brave face, but it was hard.
‘Oh Edward, I’m scared,’ she suddenly blurted out. ‘Her and Megan are all I have.’
The tears began to well in her eyes.
‘It will be OK. You have me too,’ Edward told her.
‘If only I did. You’re back with Alice now, if you remember,’ Jill pointed out.
‘I’m not back with Alice, and I’m not going back to Oxford,’ Edward insisted. ‘What I did was wrong and a mistake, but I didn’t mean to hurt you. Perhaps I just needed to remind myself what I was letting go of and saying goodbye to. I’ve done that now, and it won’t happen again.’
In his mind Edward was determined there would be no repetition. Part of him still loved Alice, but he knew it was finally over between them, despite the constant temptation her undoubted beauty would always give him. Maybe he’d needed to sleep with her again to realise that they had no future together. His future was with Jill or on his own.
‘Anyway, this isn’t the time or place to discuss it,’ Jill stopped him. ‘We can talk about it another time.’
‘As you wish,’ Edward accepted.
They had difficulty parking at the hospital, and had to drive round several times before they eventually found a space. Inside the hospital, they spoke to a consultant. He explained the gravity of the situation, and that she was unlikely to pull through.
‘Is it all right to see her?’ Jill enquired.
‘You can see her, but she won’t be able to hear you,’ the doctor warned.
‘It would be nice just to hold her hand,’ Jill said.
‘You can do that. It might help,’ the doctor suggested. ‘If it’s any consolation she won’t have suffered. She was probably asleep when she had the stroke. She won’t even have known it was happening.’
‘That’s something,’ Jill acknowledged. ‘She was in quite good health and still looking after herself until very recently. Then she suddenly began to deteriorate. She only recently moved into a home.’
‘Sometimes it’s better that way,’ the doctor said. ‘It’s good she had her health as long as she did. If it was a relative of mine, I wouldn’t want them hanging on too long and suffering once the end had begun. It may be a blessing if she doesn’t wake up. It’s probably the best way to look at it.’
‘Thanks for your time and efforts anyway doctor,’ Jill thanked him.
‘We’ll continue to monitor her, but we don’t think an emergency operation would help in this case. She’d almost certainly die on the operating table. All we can do is make her comfortable and wait and see,’ the doctor said.
Jill nodded. She realised her mother was at the end of her life. It was just a matter of when now. She’d never get to speak to her again. She’d never hear her voice or hear her laugh again. So many memories came flooding back at once, many from when Jill was young. At least they’d always remained close, both emotionally and in geographical distance. Jill had never moved far away. That provided a degree of comfort.
Edward and Jill spent the rest of the day watching over Mary and waiting for the inevitable. Jill quietly reminisced. She hoped her mother might be able to hear her, but she knew she couldn’t. She looked very peaceful. Her eyes were closed, but she was still breathing and her heart was still pumping. At one point Edward got up to get them both a drink and a snack. Lunchtime had passed, and they hadn’t even noticed. There were several eating options on the expansive site, although vegan options were slightly limited. He still came back with something they could both eat.
A little after 4pm, Edward thought he detected a change in Mary’s breathing. It became fainter and more intermittent, and then eventually seemed to stop altogether. Her heart continued to beat on the monitor, and then it stopped too. It was all over. She’d gone. There was nothing more to be done. At least it had been painless and she was at peace. Edward put his arm around Jill, as she began to shake and weep uncontrollably. The tears ran down her cheeks. She tried to collect herself, but it was difficult. She had no experience of life without her mum
‘I realise it’s for the best,’ she sobbed. ‘But it’s still terrible when they go.’
‘I know,’ Edward tried to console her, but there was limited solace he could offer, even though he too had lost both his parents.
Edward’s mother had been dead some five years or more, his father over a dozen. He still missed them, although he’d deliberately banished memories of the days of their passing from his mind. They were too painful to recall. He preferred to remember his parents in their prime, when they were very much alive and living. Their gradual deterioration over time wasn’t something he cared to dwell on too long. Jill’s father, like her husband, had died comparatively young. Now her mother, Mary, had joined them.
Jill was allowed to remain with her dead mum to say her final goodbyes. After a while sitting with her, she was ready to leave. There was nothing more to be done, although the hospital had to complete the necessary paperwork, including issuing a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, before they could go home. Jill drove in silence. No doubt all kinds of thoughts were going through her mind, and she was experiencing a mass of mixed emotions inside. Mostly she was probably numb. Edward knew he had been on the days his own parents had died. He’d found himself going through the motions as if on autopilot and without conscious thought. Nothing had seemed quite real, although evidently it was all too real. That feeling had continued until after their respective funerals. It was only some weeks later a sense of normality had gradually seemed to return.
Jill drove slowly. She’d been in a hurry to get there. That speed was no longer necessary. At least she’d seen her mother before she’d passed, even though her mother hadn’t seen her. Mary had been unconscious throughout. She’d never regained consciousness after suffering her stroke. Jill liked to think on some level Mary had been aware of her daughter’s presence. It comforted Jill somewhat to think that, although the reality was probably rather different. Mary probably hadn’t been aware of anything at all. She’d slipped into something akin to a coma, from which she’d never woken up.
Jill pulled into a space outside her house on the corner of King Edward Road. When they got out, Edward suggested they go for a drink in one of the local pubs. He suspected Jill needed something to fortify her spirits and get over the shock. It was always a shock when a parent died, and Jill had been given little or no warning that it was about to happen. Whilst her mum had recently gone into a home and her mental faculties had begun to show signs of deterioration, there had been every indication she’d carry on for years. In fact the end had come quickly and suddenly. Perhaps the deterioration in her mental state had been a sign of the impending stroke. In retrospect it made sense.
Jill accepted Edward’s invitation of a drink. She was in no fit condition to argue. She probably needed a couple to calm her nerves. They went to one of their regular haunts on Brynmor Road, The Bryn-Y-Mor, which Edward had been frequenting for well over forty years. Apart from the occasional refurbishment, it hadn’t even changed much in all that time, which to Edward was a blessing. There would have been a time he would have taken her in the opposite direction to The Cricketers by the St Helen’s Rugby and Cricket Ground, but that favourite pub amongst students had been closed since around 2015. A decade or so had passed since, and it had been redeveloped into accommodation, but it was still a loss. At least The Bryn-Y-Mor still stood as it always had. Edward wasn’t a great fan of change. He preferred nostalgia and the past.
‘What are you having?’ Edward asked, as he went to the bar and Jill went to sit down.
Late afternoon was just turning to early evening. As it was a Monday in December, the pub was quiet, with just a few regulars scattered here and there, and one or two who’d just popped in for a quick pint after work. It suited Edward and Jill that it was quiet.
‘A glass of white wine?’ she replied, but as much in the form of a question as a statement of what she actually wanted.
It seemed like a suitably formal drink to toast the life of Jill’s mother with, so Edward ordered one too. He’d been slipping back into bad old habits of drinking a bit too much of late, he realised, what with all the kerfuffle of Alice’s arrival. He made a mental note to cut back once they’d got Christmas out the way. Otherwise he’d find himself putting on weight again, or exacerbating the minor heart condition he had. It had been better since he’d come to Swansea, and it largely hadn’t bothered him. He didn’t want an unhealthy lifestyle to set him back again.
‘She was a good mother,’ Jill said. ‘We had a largely happy childhood. Of course there were times when I was a teenager and in my twenties when we didn’t get on. But she didn’t make too much of a fuss when I made mistakes in early adulthood. She was aways there to pick up the pieces and look after me, whilst I got back on my feet. She didn’t try to interfere or preach too much.’
‘That’s all you can ask for,’ Edward agreed.
‘She was probably a better mum than I’ve been to Megan, although I didn’t realise it at the time.’
‘You’re a good mum too,’ Edward reassured her.
He wondered if he himself was a good parent. Perhaps he’d encouraged Victoria to be too materialistic. She’d seen what money had bought him, and wanted even more than he’d accumulated in a highly lucrative career in investment banking. Henry had turned into a restless and wandering soul, who never remained in one place long. If only he’d settle down one day. Sadly he was still haunted by the premature death of his mother. Of course it hadn’t been easy for Edward bringing up two teenagers alone after Angela’s death. He’d done the best he could, although perhaps he’d been guilty of putting work before them on occasion. There was nothing he could do about it now, except try to make peace with them. Victoria didn’t approve of his separation with Alice naturally enough. Henry might not even be aware they’d separated.
‘Will you help me with the funeral arrangements?’ Jill suddenly asked, her mind moving on to the further ramifications of her mother’s death.
‘Of course,’ Edward agreed. ‘Just tell me what you need me to do.’
‘Well, it will be a fairly simple affair. A lot of her friends and relatives are no longer with us,’ Jill said, realising her mum had in fact made a pretty respectable age and outlived many of her peers. ‘She wouldn’t want a big fuss anyway. I presume my brother and sister will come, if they can drag themselves away from their precious lives. I realise I should have rung them, but there was nothing they could have done.’
‘You can’t think of everything,’ Edward told her. ‘Ring them tomorrow.’
‘I’ll do it first thing. There are probably a few other relatives I should invite I’m barely in touch with. I’m afraid I’ve not been very good at things like that as an adult,’ Jill stated, looking at Edward in an almost apologetic manner.
‘It doesn’t matter. Just invite the ones who you really want there,’ Edward suggested. ‘You can always put a notice in the local newspaper. Some people may see it and attend.’
‘When do you think we should have the funeral?’ Jill wondered.
‘I’d do it as soon as possible,’ Edward proposed. ‘You don’t want it hanging over you over Christmas. How about next Monday? That gives us a week to get it all sorted.’
Jill nodded.
‘Do you think we can have everything ready by then?’ Jill asked.
‘You can with my help,’ Edward insisted.
They stayed for a couple more drinks at The Bryn-Y-Mor, before retiring to Jill’s home above the bookshop. Mary’s death had shocked Edward back to reality. He had to be there for Jill, even if they were no longer a couple. There could be no question of further dalliances with Alice. They were permanently at an end. He’d have to make that clear the next time they met. It wouldn’t be easy, as part of him still loved her, and he’d loved the sex they’d had, but there could be no repeat. That was it forever.
Edward sat and watched television with Jill for a while, as they sipped another glass of wine each. He wanted to make sure she was all right before leaving and getting the train back to Neath. He knew it would be inappropriate for him to stay. After all he’d spent the previous night with Alice. He hadn’t told Jill that. There seemed no point. It would only reopen wounds that were best left to heal. Eventually it reached the point though when it seemed appropriate for him to make his exit. It had gone 9.30pm. As Edward rose to his feet, Jill reached out and pulled him back.
‘Will you stay with me, Edward?’ she asked tenderly. ‘I don’t want to be on my own tonight.’
‘Of course I will, if you’re sure that’s what you want,’ Edward replied.
‘I’m sure,’ Jill told him. ‘It doesn’t mean we’re a couple again, so don’t get any ideas,’ she added.
Edward wasn’t about to. He’d had enough sex of late to last him a little while anyway. Through his own bad behaviour, he’d been unusually well catered for in that department. He wouldn’t need any more for a week or two at least, unless by chance he and Jill happened naturally to reconnect again over the Christmas period. Contemplating that prospect was rather getting ahead of himself, he recognised, and being somewhat over optimistic in the extreme. There was a lot more contrition needed to reach that stage of forgiveness and reconciliation. Yet whilst it might not have meant they were a couple again, it did mean Jill had taken the first step along the difficult path of finding it in her heart to forgive him for what he’d done. Edward only hoped that they might in time just be able to slip back into their old life, and everything that had happened be forgotten. Of course it was a lot to ask for, but he could only hope. There was no reason not to do that.
Edward knew he not only had a funeral to organise that week, he also had to sort out the situation with Alice as a matter of urgency. He guessed he wouldn’t be spending too much time in either shop whilst these two things were being attended to. He was confident both Meredith and Megan would be understanding in the light of Mary’s death. It was customary to take time off work as compassionate leave in such circumstances after all. He also had to ensure Alice was on her way back to Oxford before Christmas. It would be a very busy few days, he realised, as he lay down to go sleep beside Jill. He thought she might send him up to his own room in the attic, but she didn’t. She’d truly meant it when she said she didn’t want to be alone. For his part Edward felt he was back where he belonged.
Edward got up early the next morning. It was a Tuesday and Christmas was just over a week away. There was much to be done before then. His mind started to go into overdrive, just as it had in his working days. He encouraged Jill to get up too. There was no time to waste, he told her. After breakfast they contacted a local funeral director. As chance would have it there was one based just a road away, so it was only natural they’d use them. They were happy to take on the arrangements, and Edward and Jill could go and see them later that morning to sort out the fine detail. Money was no object. Edward was paying. He felt it was the least he could do, after what he’d put Jill through. It was a small gift to her, after what had happened with Alice over the previous fortnight.
Having selected an undertaker, they then began looking for a suitable venue for the wake. They wanted something in the Sketty or Uplands areas, as that was where Mary had lived for much of her life. In the end they chose what billed itself as an elegant venue in the heart of Uplands, offering private function rooms, which could accommodate them on the day they wanted. Naturally Jill requested the food should lean strongly towards being vegetarian and vegan. She then started the difficult task of contacting immediate relatives, including her brother and sister, and those of Mary’s friends she had contact details for, or was able to contact. Sadly there were a number she didn’t know how to get in touch with. Edward promised to see what he could do to help later in the week.
Guided by Edward, they worked with quiet efficiency. He made a list of everything they had to, so the funeral could take place without a hitch. They had to register the death, and they made an appointment for the following day to do that. They had all the necessary paperwork from the hospital to give to the registrar. Jill had to locate her mother’s will. She was grateful Edward was there to help her. She realised she would have struggled badly without him. It would have proved too much, and a lot of it wouldn’t have got done, certainly not in time for a funeral the following week.
They had a snacky lunch at home. They didn’t have time for anything more elaborate. They’d eat properly in the evening, they decided. In the afternoon Edward contacted his solicitors and told them to begin divorce proceedings against Alice, and start drawing up all the necessary documentation. He should have done it ages before, he realised. He needed to do it now, so there was no going back and it was final. He told them to handle everything, and just keep him abreast of developments. He told them to be generous in the settlement, leaving her the Oxford house and a significant quantity of cash. He told them to delay serving the writ, until he’d had a chance to speak to her in person first.
Edward texted Alice and asked if they could meet at her hotel the following day. It would be almost exactly two weeks since their first meeting. Alice only had a week left of her 21-day stay in Swansea. That was unless she decided to return early. In a week’s time she’d be gone anyway. Edward guessed once he’d spoken to her, she might decide to leave before that. It was possible she might stay in the hope he had a change of heart. Perhaps she’d make one more big romantic gesture to win him back. Perhaps she’d try and seduce him again. She knew he was a sucker for her slim, sexy body. She wouldn’t tempt him this time though. He was decided once and for all. It was out of a question, with Mary’s funeral soon to take place.
Of course Alice texted him back straight away, agreeing to meet. She was probably already imagining another evening of wine and sex. Edward hoped his formal tone had been an indication that wasn’t about to happen. Perhaps he should have mentioned Mary’s passing in the text. He wasn’t sure it was any of Alice’s business. It didn’t really have any relevance on his decision to divorce her. It was complicated, as he still liked her. He’d just come to recognise he liked Jill more. He didn’t want to go back to Oxford. He wanted to stay in Wales. He was happy living in Swansea and Neath. He was content with his new life and new surroundings. In all likelihood he’d live out his days here. Alice wouldn’t be on her own very long. She’d have no shortage of admirers and potential suiters. She’d soon have a new man, and no doubt a more handsome one. In a few months, Edward would be forgotten. He consoled himself with that thought, as he didn’t like to hurt her.
He could reasonably argue she’d brought it on herself. She’d chosen to have an affair with her work colleague, Paul. No one else had made that decision for her. She and Edward would still be together if it wasn’t for that fateful action. She’d been happy to carry on behind his back. He’d still be in Oxford, if he hadn’t found out. Perhaps if Jill wasn’t in his life, he might have asked Alice to give up her job and join him in Wales. In some ways it was a pity he wasn’t in a position to ask her. He thought it unlikely she’d agree. When push came to shove, she wouldn’t want to give up her job or the big house. At least it would be hers now. She’d live the rest of her life in luxury and comfort, just as she always wanted, and a large quantity of the money would be hers.
By the time Edward set off to meet Alice the following evening, they’d registered Mary’s death and met the funeral director several times. They’d sorted flowers, and been to see the venue for the wake and liked it. They’d located the will, and contacted as many people as they could about the funeral. Neither had found time to pop into work. They both had to trust the respective shops were continuing to operate smoothly in their absence. It wasn’t the end of the world if they weren’t. They had more important things to worry about.
As Edward walked down Oystermouth Road past Alan and Gwen’s guesthouse towards Alice’s hotel, he was relieved to have got so many things sorted so quickly. Jill had been happy to let him go. She was aware he’d finally contacted his solicitors and begun divorce proceedings. It made her feel a little more secure in their relationship. She understood Edward had to tell Alice face to face. That was the kind of man he was, even if his behaviour had fallen rather short of the standards he normally set of late. He’d started to redeem himself with the funeral and other arrangements.
Edward wasn’t looking forward to saying what he needed to say, but it had to be done. He had no choice. Alice had upset the apple cart by coming to Swansea in the first place, but it was time for her to leave. He’d do his best to let her down lightly, as he still had feelings for her. He’d resist all temptation to go up to her room. He mustn’t allow himself to make love to her again. It was out of the question. He’d keep it as pleasant as possible, but there was no escaping the reality she might not take it well when she’d heard what he had to say. That was regrettable, but unavoidable. Edward only hoped they could stay friends when the dust had settled. He hoped that she’d learn to forgive him in time for what he was doing. He hoped she’d realise he was giving her a very generous divorce settlement.
Edward met Alice in the bar, as he had on the other occasions he’d arranged to see her since her arrival in Swansea. She’d also turned up unannounced and unexpectedly at both shops, but those encounters hadn’t been by prior arrangement. Edward could tell by Alice’s attire, her manner and general demeanour that she was expecting the evening to go as their last rendezvous and the one before that had both done. No doubt after a couple of drinks she was anticipating Edward would follow her up to her room, and they would make love again. She was already sipping from a gin and tonic in front of her, no doubt in anticipation of what she presumed might follow. Edward of course knew he couldn’t allow that to happen. He had a very different agenda in mind for the evening. Alice could tell immediately by the serious look on Edward’s face that something was up. It alarmed her somewhat. She didn’t greet him with a smile or a kiss, as she’d been intending to.
‘What’s wrong, Edward?’ she asked instead.
She knew him well enough to know there was something he needed to get off his chest. There was some matter of genuine importance and significance that he wanted to discuss. Edward wasn’t someone to play games for the sake of it. That wasn’t the kind of man he was. There was no doubt a good reason he was looking as he did. Alice had no idea what it was, and could only hazard a guess as to what it might be. She presumed it concerned Jill.
‘We need to talk, Alice,’ he said.
‘We can talk. Get yourself a drink first, and then come and sit down,’ Alice suggested.
She tried to keep things light. She wanted to defuse any hint of tension between the two of them, before it had a chance gain momentum. She planned to return the atmosphere to how it had been when she’d left his Neath bedroom only two days earlier, after they’d spent the night together and enjoyed several sessions of steamy sex. Edward went to the bar and returned with only a beer, rather than a wine or spirit. It was a sign perhaps he wanted to keep a clear head, and not be deflected from his purpose. He sat down beside Alice with his drink.
‘Things have changed,’ he told her. ‘Jill’s mother has died.’
Alice took a moment to digest this unforeseen news.
‘Well, that’s very sad and I’m sorry to hear it, but it doesn’t mean things need to change between us,’ Alice suggested.
‘It does,’ Edward disagreed, shaking his head.
‘I don’t see why,’ Alice continued.
‘It’s no use. I’ve made up my mind, and I’m not going to change it. Jill needs me, and I’m staying with her in Wales,’ Edward stated unequivocally.
‘But what about the sex we had? Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it. I know you did,’ Alice protested.
‘I enjoyed it very much, but it’s not enough,’ Edward replied.
‘I know you still want me, and as soon as we’re alone we’ll end up in bed,’ Alice predicted.
‘It must never happen again,’ Edward insisted.
‘I doubt Jill will want you back after what happened anyway,’ Alice pointed out.
‘It doesn’t matter if she does or doesn’t,’ Edward responded. ‘I need to be there for her as a friend if nothing else.’
‘What about me?’ Alice enquired. ‘You can’t just leave me after we slept together.’
‘Part of me will always love you, Alice. Part of me will wonder if I’m doing the right thing, but I have to follow my heart,’ Edward tried to explain. ‘You have to accept it’s over between us.’
‘I’ll never accept it, and you haven’t heard the last of this,’ Alice declared.
‘There’s something else you need to know,’ Edward said.
‘What’s that?’ Alice wondered.
Her voice had adopted a louder and harder edge.
‘I’ve been in touch with my solicitors. I’ve told them to initiate divorce proceedings. I wanted you to hear it from me first,’ Edward informed her. ‘I think you’ll find it a very generous settlement. You can keep the house, and you’ll never want for anything for the rest of your life.’
Edward had hoped to pass the value of the house onto his daughter Victoria and son Henry in time, but circumstances had changed. That no longer seemed a possibility in the light of his planned divorce. Alice looked dumfounded. She couldn’t quite believe Edward could resist her womanly wiles, and choose Jill over her instead.
‘I don’t care about the house,’ she snapped. ‘How can you possibly prefer that plain woman to me?’
‘It’s not a case of prefer. She just needs me more than you do,’ Edward stated. ‘You’ll never want for potential lovers and partners. We both know that. You’ll be quite the catch when the divorce is finalised. It will make you a very rich woman. You’ll forget me soon enough, when you’re back in Oxford and with some handsome new man.’
‘I don’t want a new man. I want you Edward,’ Alice said.
‘You’ll always have a place in my heart, and I hope we can stay friends,’ Edward continued.
‘I need more than that,’ Alice responded.
‘I’m sorry, but my life is here with Jill in Wales,’ Edward apologised.
Alice was silent again for a moment. She needed time to let all this information she was receiving in quick succession sink in.
‘I’m going out for a cigarette,’ she announced at last.
When she returned, her manner had become more terse and businesslike. Perhaps she realised the game was finally over. The phoney war she’d been waging had been lost. Jill was the silent victor.
‘If that’s the way you want to play it, I’ll instruct my solicitors to take you for everything they can get,’ she said.
‘I think you’ll find I’m already offering the maximum any court is likely to award,’ Edward replied. ‘But let’s not make this unpleasant. I wish you the very best and nothing but happiness.’
‘Don’t sound so bloody sanctimonious,’ Alice scolded him.
‘What are you going to do for Christmas?’ Edward asked, trying to change the subject, and get things back on more agreeable terms.
‘Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right,’ Alice said. ‘I shall remain here for another week as planned, in the hope you see sense by then. I’d rather hoped I’d be spending Christmas in Oxford with you. Failing that I have friends I can stay with, or I may just take myself off somewhere hot abroad to forget all about this sorry episode in my life.’
‘I hope you have a wonderful time, whatever you choose you do,’ Edward told her. ‘And I really hope when the dust has settled you’ll choose to stay in touch.’
‘And what will you be doing, Edward?’ Alice enquired.
‘I’ll be having a very quiet one, either here in Swansea with Jill or in Neath by myself,’ Edward answered.
He then finished his drink and got up to leave.
‘I should go,’ he announced. ‘Don’t hate me for what I’m doing. I mean it when I say I want us to stay friends.’
Alice had no doubt he did mean it. He’d probably be a very good friend, if she allowed him to be. Her mood started to soften towards him again.
‘I wish I’d never met Paul,’ she sighed, with a note of sadness. ‘It’s all my fault. I should never have let him turn my head. I’d still be with you if I’d resisted his advances.’
‘Don’t blame yourself,’ Edward told her. ‘Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe we’re both ready for a change. I’m happy here in Wales. You love Oxford and London. You’re a beautiful woman in the prime of your life. You deserve someone better than an old duffer like me anyway.’
With that thought Edward left Alice to her contemplation, and to finish her drink by herself. As he walked back around the bay, he realised his marriage was finally really over for good. He’d made his choice. There was no going back. Alice might still have a week left of her stay in Swansea. He doubted he’d even see her during that time. He’d be too busy with the funeral and belatedly getting ready for Christmas. He’d have little opportunity to meet her again, other than perhaps to say goodbye.
Jill seemed to sense by his quiet mood when he got in that the deed had been done. Edward had told Alice the marriage was over, and divorce proceedings had begun. Jill didn’t ask too much about how Alice had taken it. It was enough to know it was now sorted, and her relationship with Edward was back on track in time for Christmas. She saw no point in dragging out their temporary break-up any longer. Not only did she welcome Edward in her bed again that night, rather than go straight to sleep, she left him in little doubt she wanted him to make love to her. As their bodies rocked gently back and forth in unison together, they were both content in the thought Alice was at last out of their lives for good.
‘We need to go into town tomorrow,’ Edward told Jill when they’d finished. ‘There’s something I want to get you for Christmas.’
‘Oh, what’s that?’ Jill asked, suddenly feeling intrigued at what it might be.
‘You’ll have to wait and see,’ Edward replied, preferring to keep it a secret, as he rolled over and went to sleep.
He could finally sleep better, knowing everything was resolved and things were getting back on track. It felt like a bad dream. He could barely believe what had happened, although it hadn’t all been bad. In some ways he was glad he’d had a chance to reconnect with Alice. In other ways it had been a nightmare that could have cost him everything. Now it was over, and after a brief time apart he was back with Jill hopefully permanently this time. Hopefully nothing else would come between them. He knew he had a lot to make up to her for, and he intended to do his level best to do that. There would be no more indiscretions with Alice. In future he’d be a one-woman man. He didn’t know what had come over him that he’d ever been anything else. It was so out of character. For a couple of weeks he’d been someone else. Now he was himself again. He’d start putting it right straight away, without a moment to lose. That was his intention, and he got up early with that thought on his mind. He got Jill up early too.
‘What’s the hurry?’ she asked rather grumpily, as Edward tried to cajole her into action. ‘Can’t whatever it is wait until later?’
‘There’s no time like the present,’ he told her.
They were sat down and eating breakfast by 8am. They were dressed and ready to go into town by 8.45am.
‘You know the shops don’t even open until 9am,’ Jill reminded him. ‘And some don’t open until after that.’
‘This one will be open,’ Edward assured her. ‘I checked.’
They left Beti to guard the house and set off. They walked into the city centre. It was a typical grey December day in Swansea, cool, with a hint of rain in the air. It wasn’t wet enough to require an umbrella. Edward wore his thicker coat. It was now winter, and he felt he needed it. Christmas was only a week away. He’d done almost nothing for it by way of preparation. He hadn’t even discussed with Jill how they might spend it. It would no doubt be a quiet one now. The thought crossed his mind he could take her to a hotel or out for Christmas dinner, but everywhere was probably booked up. He doubted anywhere would be great for vegans anyway.
Besides Edward didn’t really approve of businesses that forced their staff to work on Christmas Day. As a result he didn’t really wish to support such practices. He was giving his staff, if that’s what they were, Megan, Meredith and Daisy, a proper paid Christmas and New Year break. He planned to shut on December 24th and not open again until the beginning of January. Both shops would shut early on Christmas Eve too. He didn’t want anyone thinking of him and Jill as inconsiderate bosses. It was the least they could do, as they were taking time off this week to plan Mary’s funeral.
‘Where are you taking me?’ Jill asked, as they walked.
She too had her winter duffel coat on, and looked cute and appealing, Edward thought.
‘You’ll find out soon enough,’ he replied, as he led her along The Kingsway and down Union Street towards the Quadrant Shopping Centre. Once inside they passed JD Sports, but stopped outside a jewellery shop just before Boots the Chemist. It was called Stephen Hughes Fine Diamonds.
‘What are we doing here?’ Jill enquired.
‘I thought I’d buy you an engagement ring for Christmas, that is if you’ll have me,’ Edward said.
Jill was a little shocked and taken aback by Edward’s sudden proposal. She didn’t know quite how to respond at first.
‘But you’re still married,’ she pointed out not unreasonably, after taking a moment to digest what he was suggesting.
‘I won’t be much longer,’ Edward declared. ‘The divorce will have come through long before we’re ready to get married.’
‘It’s a lot to think about after what happened with Alice,’ Jill said.
She was bound to have reservations after Edward’s recent infidelity. She didn’t even know the full extent of his betrayal, and Edward hoped she never would. He’d been prepared for her not to say yes immediately, but he wanted to sew the seed in her head that one day they might be married.
‘I know,’ Edward agreed. ‘Take your time to think about it. You don’t have to decide this minute, but there’s no harm having a look.’
‘I suppose not,’ Jill conceded.
‘Look, I accept what I did was wrong. I made a mistake. I let temptation get the better of me. I did sleep with her. I can’t deny it, and I can only apologise and assure you it will never happen again. I want to make it up to you. You’re the one that I want, not Alice. It’s you I want to spend the rest of my life with, not her. If you can forgive me, let’s start again with a clean slate, and make the most of the time we have left together,’ Edward pleaded.
Jill didn’t reply instantly. Instead she stood in the busy Quadrant Shopping Centre, looking up at Edward, contemplating what she might say to him. Other shoppers were passing them in both directions. With only seven shopping days left until Christmas, it was busier than usual, as people sought those last-minute gift ideas.
‘It’s a lot to ask, but as you say we’re here now, so we may as well have a look,’ Jill said eventually, and smiled at Edward.
Despite what he’d done, in some ways Jill was relieved and happy to have him back. She’d be even happier when Alice had finally left Swansea and the divorce had been finalised, she realised.
‘Let’s go in and see what they’ve got then,’ Edward suggested, opening the shop door for Jill to enter first.
Once she started looking, Jill quickly warmed to the task. They had a wide range of engagement rings, starting at about £1,500 and going up to nearer twenty thousand, to look at. Part of Jill thought she should punish Edward for his recent betrayal of trust by picking the most expensive. She knew too that it wouldn’t bother Edward greatly if she did. He could easily afford it. He would have happily paid fifty thousand, if she’d wanted such a ring. In the event she fell in love with one priced at £11,500.
‘Are you sure that’s the one you want?’ Edward asked, before buying it.
‘It is,’ Jill replied. ‘It’s beautiful.’
Luckily they had Jill’s size in stock, and they were able to leave the shop with a little bag with the ring nestled neatly in its gift box inside. Edward put the receipt away carefully in his wallet. He didn’t want to lose that or the ring.
‘We’re now going to celebrate with a coffee and donut at Nonna’s,’ Edward announced.
It was a while since he’d had one of their vegan donuts, and he was more than ready for one. It would go down a treat with a latte. He might even order a couple of vegan hot dogs to take away and have later. They’d only had a light breakfast, and he was feeling quite hungry.
‘Thank you so much,’ Jill said, looking lovingly into Edward’s eyes, as they sat eating their donuts. ‘It’s a lovely ring.’
‘Thank you for saying yes,’ Edward answered. ’You know I would have got you a more expensive one, if that’s what you wanted.’
‘I know you would have, but that was the ring for me. I knew as soon as I saw it.’ Jill said.
‘It will look exquisite on your finger,’ Edward observed.
‘When can I have it?’ Jill enquired, already getting impatient to start wearing it.
‘I was planning to give it to you on Christmas Day, if you can wait that long,’ Edward replied.
‘Will you get down on one knee?’ Jill wondered.
‘If you like,’ Edward responded.
‘You know John never got me an engagement ring. We just fell into marriage really, and just went off and did it quietly out of convenience as much as anything,’ Jill explained. ‘It will be nice to have a proper ring this time.’
‘And you can decide if you want a big or small wedding,’ Edward told her. ‘It’s entirely up to you. I’ll go along with whatever you want.’
‘Well, it might be nice to have a few guests,’ Jill suggested. ‘When were you thinking of getting married?’
‘It does depend a bit on when the divorce goes through, but perhaps in the autumn of next year, or the summer after that,’ Edward proposed.
‘A summer wedding would be nice,’ Jill said.
‘So that’s decided then,’ Edward agreed, kissing Jill lightly on the lips. ‘And it’s good to see a smile back on your face after recent events.’
‘It’s good to be starting a new chapter in our lives,’ Jill concurred. ‘It’s just a shame mum won’t be around to see us engaged and wed. She would have been really pleased for us.’
‘I know, but maybe she’s looking down from above,’ Edward speculated.
‘I don’t really believe it, but it would be nice to think that,’ Jill agreed.
‘I don’t either, but none of us really know the magical workings of the universe,’ Edward observed. ‘At least you have the consolation that she had a good life.’
‘That is a comfort,’ Jill acknowledged.
‘Well, we’re due a change of luck, so let’s look forward to a new year and a new start,’ Edward suggested. ‘And there’s something else I haven’t told you.’
‘What’s that?’ Jill wondered, intrigued at what other surprise Edward might spring on her.
‘We’re taking on more staff in the new year, so apart from the admin we can retire and spend more time together,’ Edward announced.
‘That would be wonderful,’ Jill said, clapping her hands with joy at the thought of finally being able to pass on the bookshop to someone else, and have more time for Edward and herself.
‘I thought you’d be pleased,’ Edward smiled. ‘Besides if we do introduce food and beverages at the Swansea bookshop, we’ll need someone to do that for us at our age.’
Jill wasn’t going to argue. She’d be happy to get it off her hands in truth. Whilst she liked books, in truth it had always been John’s baby not hers, and now it was more Edward’s. It had always required more effort than the money it generated in return justified. Edward at least knew how to make a profit out of it, as all the early signs were he was doing with the Neath project. Jill was only too pleased to leave all the business decisions to him. She was content to be a silent partner, and effectively retire whilst still in her fifties.
The funeral of Jill’s mother, Mary, took place the following Monday and went very smoothly, or as happily as such an event could do, as did the wake afterwards. The attendance at the service was actually larger than they’d anticipated, given the short notice and the close proximity to Christmas. Edward agreed to give one of the readings, as Jill felt too emotional to speak herself. Both Jill’s elder sister and younger brother were in attendance. Her sister was called Beth, Edward discovered, and her brother David. They seemed pleased to see Jill. Beth brought her husband and family with her from North Wales, whilst David attended alone. He was currently between partners. They all agreed it was pleasant to reconnect, even in such circumstances, and they should see more of each other. Mary’s ashes were interred in a plot near that of her late husband. Jill could finally lay her to rest and say goodbye to her. It was a deeply moving day, but in some ways a joyous one.
Alice made several more attempts to see Edward before leaving Swansea. She turned up at both the Swansea bookshop and the Neath coffee shop and bookshop without success. She didn’t see Edward or Jill on either occasion. They were too busy with the funeral and other arrangements to be at work. Edward had politely asked both Megan and Meredith not to say too much about their whereabouts. In the end Alice had to admit defeat. Edward hadn’t changed his mind as she hoped, and she returned to Oxford the day before Christmas Eve without seeing him again. He’d already said his goodbyes to her. He planned to be in touch again in the new year, once the dust has settled. Although she was cross, she actually took his decision quite gracefully in the end. As she boarded her train, she was already planning her next move. As Edward had pointed out, she’d be a rich woman and quite a catch once the divorce was finalised. It wouldn’t be long before she was with some younger and more handsome man. She’d been in Swansea exactly three weeks, or 21 days.
The same day Edward drove Jill to the Tesco Superstore on West Way, and stocked up with a huge amount of food and drink for Christmas. Apart from the occasional walk, they didn’t plan to leave the house for a few days. They invited Megan to join them on Christmas Day. They checked both Meredith and Daisy had somewhere to go for Christmas and weren’t at a loose end. Meredith was spending it with her girlfriend, and Daisy was with her family.
Edward and Jill spent a wonderfully quiet Christmas together. They exchanged gifts in the morning. Edward was true to his word and got down on one knee to give Jill her engagement ring. He’d also got her some luxury perfume and some items of clothing he was confident would be to her quirky taste. In return Jill got Edward the scarf and gloves he wanted, and several books he was after. She also got him a modest silver ring. She wanted him to wear it, to remind him he was now engaged and taken. Megan joined them for lunch and stayed for most of the afternoon. They took Beti for a quick walk before it went dark, to walk off some of the food they’d eaten. They then spent the evening in front of the television, relaxing and sharing some more wine. Then on Boxing Day they did it all again.
It was a relief to both of them that they’d got their relationship back on track, and they could start to move on from Alice and the commotion she’d caused. Luckily Jill was a pragmatic person and not one to hold grudges. She was able to see the bigger picture, rather than let Edward’s indiscretion ruin the future they had together. She believed Edward when he said it wouldn’t happen again. She was confident he’d learned from his error and his cheating.
Having spent Christmas in Swansea, they spent New Year’s Eve in Neath in the rooms above the shop. It was cosy and warm inside, whilst it was gently drizzling outside. They had a couple of drinks in The Cross Keys in St David’s Street on the other side of Victoria Gardens first, just yards away from their home, before going back and settling in for the night. The pub wasn’t especially busy. There was little even to indicate it was a special night of the year, not like the old days when it would have been packed to the rafters, although the night was still young. There was the possibility it could get busier later. Either way New Year’s Eve certainly wasn’t what it had been when Edward and Jill had been in their prime.
It didn’t matter that it was just the two of them. That was all they needed. They didn’t need anyone else. Alice had gone. Her scheming had failed. She’d probably already got her eyes on the next one. She was no doubt in the process of moving on, as they spent their evening in Neath. Out of courtesy Edward had sent her a text wishing her merry Christmas and a happy new year. He’d reiterated that he’d always care for her, and had signed it with several kisses. She hadn’t replied. She probably needed time before they could be friends. She was probably still licking her wounds, or else partying and getting drunk with someone new. Edward hoped she was happy. He hoped he would hear from her again when she was ready. He knew their romantic involvement was at an end, however. He had Jill now. He was back with her, and very much in love.
Whilst Jill’s mum’s death had been a terrible thing, she would have been pleased it had helped bring them back together and cement their relationship and the feelings they had for each other. It had also helped Jill reconnect with her brother and sister. That would have pleased her mother too. Edward also took the act of welcoming in the near year as an excuse to ring his wandering son, Henry. Contact had been limited since Edward’s arrival in Swansea, partly from Edward’s embarrassment he was no longer with Alice. He now took the opportunity to bring Henry up to date with events, and ask Henry if he’d return for the wedding. To his surprise Henry said he might be returning before that. He’d met an English girl, who was also travelling and they were jointly planning to come back to England together. Edward said he might have a job for them. Before he knew it both his son and his new girlfriend were coming to work for him in Wales, and Edward and Jill could retire in peace.
