Chapter 8

A/N Many thanks for your reviews and messages. I think they're going to keep this story rumbling for some time….

The heart-broken woman spent large parts of the day talking to her mother, going over and over old ground and making no progress. No decision stood the test of more than half an hour of time despite her mother being a solid sounding board. While Celia was someone who had an opinion on everything, often to the extreme, and would attempt to impose those views on others, there were times when she would astound the harshest of critics. This was one of those occasions. She listened, comforted and helped practically with the needs of the day. When evening came, and after the boys had gone to bed, the conversation started again.

'It's the deceit, mum. It's not so much what he did it's how he's gone about it.'

'I don't doubt that you believe what you say, Caroline, but can you really separate the two? No doubt he was forced to lie to cover his tracks.' She poured another cup of tea and placed the steaming mug into her daughter's hands. 'You haven't eaten. You need to drink! Tea with a little sugar. Good for shock.'

'What shall I do, mum, what shall I do?'

'You know that I can't make a decision for you. You'll make the right one. Give yourself time. You don't need to rush into anything.'

'You stood by dad and his were repeat offences. Do you regret that?' Caroline had known about her father's infidelity from an early age but she had rarely talked to her mother about what it was like for her.

'Doesn't matter what I think now. Maybe I would still have made the same decision even if society or my circumstances had been different then. Was it right or wrong? That's hypothetical and I don't know the answer.' Celia yawned, despite herself.

'Go to bed, mum. I'll go too. I've gone too long without sleep. Maybe I'll drift off.' She held up her mug. 'That is if your caffeine and glucose infusions don't keep me awake!' For her mum's sake she wanted to appear more positive than she felt.

ooOoo

Caroline did, indeed, sleep and much better than she would have expected. But on waking she continued to feel as if she was being sucked into a vortex, her brain scrambled and her body weak. Celia had offered to take the boys out for the day. She had not made any progress with the use of her smart phone and decided that she wanted to buy a laptop and who better to advise and support than her teenage grandsons? So, Caroline had Saturday to herself and she determined to be busy, thinking that she would benefit from occupying both mind and body. Cupboards were stocked, laundry was done and by the early afternoon she was tackling a rather wayward hedge at the side of the driveway. Exhaustion set in soon afterwards and Caroline hunkered down in front of the TV with a cup of tea while she waited for the boys and Celia to return.

She had deliberately not looked at her phone since John had left the house, in case he made attempts to sway her with texts or emails, but she now felt strong enough to check it. Thankfully, there had been no communications from him and just one message had come in from a number which was not in her contact list. She was pleased to see that the text was from Kate. The embarrassing conversation in the pub had obviously not deterred her from getting in touch. Caroline cringed as she supposed the interfering woman must have picked up some latent lesbian vibes, even after her twenty years with John. 'What do I know?' she wondered wistfully.

She did know that she felt pleased to have given her phone number to Kate earlier in the week when they were arranging the lift to Pilates.

'Thanks for your message. It was very kind of you to think of me. I've felt better but getting there. Caroline.' She thought that this text summarised her situation without going into details. Once the message had been sent she put Kate's number into her contact list.

A reply came back within a minute. 'That's good. Just shout if u need anything. I'm lounging around – well, apart from marking books (she says, so her boss doesn't think she's slacking!)'

'I'm ok thanks. Did a shop this morning and my mother is chipping in although I'm sure I'll have to repay the favour!'

'No worries. Glad you're sorted. My offer stands. I owe u already, for all you've done to help so don't worry that I'll expect something in return! Take care. Kate'

Caroline felt that this was Kate's way of signing off from the texted chat so she simply sent a 'Thank you' in reply. She considered that even this brief exchange of messages did wonders for her sense of wellbeing and put it down to the warm openness that Kate radiated. How strange that she should be able to sense it through texts. It was so long since she'd made time for proper friends, not just acquaintances, but if she was to have one who better than such a kind, thoughtful and interesting woman?

The boys and Celia returned soon afterwards, complete with pizzas and cookie dough.

'So you don't have to cook!' Lawrence exclaimed, wasting no time in setting out the boxes on the coffee table and rushing to the kitchen to fetch the plates.

They made short work of the take-away and even Caroline and Celia had to admit that they'd enjoyed it. They all snuggled down to watch a film, although Celia dozed through most of it and Caroline struggled to concentrate. The television automatically reverted to the Sky box when the DVD had finished, and the evening news was showing highlights of a Comicon event.

'Wow, I heard about this!' Lawrence pointed at the screen with enthusiasm. 'Those costumes are great. Really famous people go to these things. Sci-fi actors and all that. I'd asked dad to take me because I knew he'd love it too, but he said Scotland was too far to travel for the weekend. Oh damn, it's gone on to the weather.'

'Well, it is too far. I'm sure you've got homewor...'

'Oh mum. Why did I know you'd say that! Sometimes I wish you did something other than work in a school!' Lawrence interrupted. 'I know. Don't answer back and get ready for bed!'

Caroline escorted Celia back to her flat while the boys cleared the lounge.

'How're you doing?' asked a very weary septuagenarian.

'Better than you, mum, by the sounds of it. How was a day shopping with two teenagers?'

'They were great. I think they enjoyed spending my money a bit too much, though. Fingers crossed that William keeps his promise to help me with the computer. I hope you feel better for having time to yourself.'

'I do, mum. Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you. Keeping busy was good. I've tried to avoid thinking about things too deeply. It's right what you said, I'll get there at some point. I keep telling myself that I don't need to decide just for the sake of it. Obviously, we'll have to think of a reason for John to stay away, unless I let him back just into the spare room for the time being. I'd rather not, if I'm honest. I don't want him in the house. Anyway, we'll see. Night, mum.' She hugged her mum, and was kissed on both cheeks in return, both appreciative of the comfort it gave.

ooOoo

Against her expectations, another good night followed but by half-past seven hunger pains led her to the kitchen where she set about making something to eat. She noticed some unopened post under a tea towel on the kitchen worktop and occupied her mind with that while she nibbled on a toasted bagel. A jointly-held credit card bill was included in the pile and, for want of something to do, she pulled out the receipts to check it off. An entry for one pound remained unaccounted for. She thought that this was very strange as she knew that neither of them would use a card for such an amount. Caroline was almost grateful for the discrepancy as it gave her mind a focus other than John. Her kitchen clock told her that it was just after eight and she thought that she might as well ring the card company before she did anything else.

Having gone through the security questions she was soon chatting to a pleasant young man with a rather broad accent.

'Oh, I can tell you what that's for. It's a hotel booking. They take a deposit against the card for one pound and it allows further transactions to be added during the stay and the pound gets taken off the total. Look on it as their safeguard as once the card number has been given they can charge the account for no-shows.'

'That makes sense. My husband is the second card holder and he's away. He must have used this card instead of his business one.'

'Is there anything else I can help you with today?'

'No, thank you. Sorry to have bothered you over such a small sum.'

'You're right to do so, Mrs Elliot. You shouldn't assume everything is satisfactory. If the correct card is presented on check-out they'll make the necessary adjustment and you'll get your pound back! I'm just sorry that the Edinburgh weather is not so easily changed for his stay here. It's tipping down this morning.'

'Sorry. Did you say Edinburgh?'

'Yes, the Grafton is at the other end of the street to our offices, strangely enough. Lovely hotel, strict dress code and definitely outside my price range.'

'Oh yes, hence your accent! I'd forgotten that your offices are north of the border. Thanks for your help.' Caroline surprised herself with the speed of her thinking, but she was close to meltdown when she ended the call.

'Think, think.' She spoke aloud to herself. With all that was going on maybe she had just got it wrong. She checked the calendar. He'd clearly written 'Cardiff'. Her thoughts were rapidly concluding that this was further deception. But why? What did it matter if he was in Cardiff or Edinburgh? In days gone by, they would always leave each other with the name and phone number of the hotel where they were staying but, with the ease of contact provided by mobile phones, this was no longer necessary. Anyone could be almost anywhere in the world at any time and the person on the other end of the phone would be none the wiser. She assumed that it may have been that he was so used to lying, covering his tracks, that he now lied out of habit. But remembering what Lawrence had said, she wondered if John had gone to the thing that they'd seen on the television. She was not sure exactly where it was being held but had a feeling the newsreader mentioned somewhere in Scotland and she no longer believed in coincidences.

Less than ten minutes later she was back in her bedroom with her phone and the number for the hotel in Edinburgh. She wanted to be somewhere private to make the call.

'Grafton Manor Hotel, good morning. Craig speaking. How may I help you?'

'Hello. Um, I, could you put me through to John Elliot? I'm afraid I've forgotten his room number.'

'Of course. I'll check that for you. One moment.'

Caroline waited anxiously, still unsure if she would speak if her call was answered. Several seconds ticked by and she was beginning to think that he might be in the shower, or at breakfast, when the ringing stopped.

'Hello.' A woman's voice, high-pitched.

Panic gripped Caroline's heart and mind. Dear God, this was not what she expected, or was it?

'Hello. Is anyone there?' The same voice, but becoming agitated.

'Now, Caroline, now!' encouraged her inner resolve.

'Yes, can I speak to John Elliot?'

'It's for you-who?' an infuriatingly sing-song reply.

'Me?' from a distance and then a firmer 'Hello?'

'Change of plan, John. I will be talking to the boys later this morning. Good job that it's raining there; at least you'll not be diverted from whatever you're there for. Just as well if I tell the boys about Judith before you see them, so you'll have a reason to explain to our younger son why you didn't take him with you to the Comicon convention. I'm assuming your companion likes dressing up as well as undressing? Bye.'

Once the call had ended the magnitude of the problem, and the task ahead, hit her afresh.