Disgrace?

Pat followed the younger woman through the streets, certain that she had made a mistake. Bob would never leave; not of his own accord and certainly not when he knew he could still make her life miserable. She hurried beside Clare as the younger woman explained what she had seen.

"You alright? Mrs Simms?" Clare asked. Pat nodded, noticing the door to her house had been locked.

"Yes. Clare, you go. Mrs Baden will be waiting. Or Spencer."

"They can wait. If you need company." Clare watched the older woman smile slightly. "Should I get Sarah or see if Mrs Campbell is back?"

"No, no don't bother them, get yourself home. Curfew will be here before we know it." Pat turned to her. "I am fine. Honestly. I'm sure Bob just had some business that couldn't wait. He'll be back. He always is."

Clare nodded, still uneasy at leaving the older woman but didn't see how she had much choice. Pat stepped forward, unlocked the front door and let herself in. Standing in the doorway she felt uneasy. Clare had been right. Bob was gone. She stepped into the living room, nerves tying her stomach in knots as she realised a simple envelope sat on his abandoned typewriter. Her name emblazoned across it in his familiar scrawl made her stomach lurch.

Xxxxxx

"Bryn!" Miriam called up the stairs. Their oldest child, David had set off to meet friends an hour earlier and their youngest child - Margaret slept peacefully in her crib. Miriam called her husband once more, shaking her head as he appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Mim? What is it? I had customers in the shop."

He jogged down the stairs as she raised an eyebrow. Her husband was so often the voice of reason but sometimes she despaired of him.

"Do you know what day it is?"

"eh?"

"The day? What today is?"

"Thursday?"

"Bryn!"

"It's not your birthday, or mine. The kids don't have anything. What is it? I can see its important to you." He looked worried as his wife smiled.

"Three months today our boy. Our David came home. Our boy came back."

"There I knew it was important." Bryn hugged her. "He's ok? Isn't he?"

"Yes, he's ok. His back is always something but he's ok. He's gone with Spencer; see if there are any jobs for him."

"He could work in the shop!"

"He doesn't want to. Our family, Bryn. All together. I never dared to hope."

Bryn pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly he kissed her hair, the scent of soap hitting him as he kissed her once more.

"There's always hope. You taught me that." She rested a hand on his chest as he kissed her gently before pulling away. "I should get back to the shop."

"If you say so." She blushed as he held her gaze. Twenty years of marriage, two children and countless ups and downs later Miriam knew she was just as much in love with Bryn as she had been when they had met. Bryn kissed her slowly, enjoying the touch of her skin under his palms. Suddenly all thoughts of shops had gone as he pushed his wife against the cold concrete wall. Miriam smiled against his skin, knowing how lucky they were to all be alive and together.

Xxxxx

Pat picked up the envelope unsure for a moment if it was all a trick. She knew Bob was cruel enough to play with her. She was almost certain he knew about her and Marek. She smiled slightly as she thought of the kind hearted soldier who had stolen her heart. Taking a deep breath she sat on the sofa, opening the envelope. The small slip of paper was folded in to four as her hands shook holding it.

'Pat, you were at that telephone exchange when I wrote is. Truth is I can't stand to look at you. Always arguing, always trying to make me angry. Frankly I deserve better. So that's what I'm getting. Better. I've a wife in London - in all but name. Twenty years I've had her and our children. Twenty years of resenting you for merely breathing. If you were dead I could remarry without shame but sadly that's not to be. I'm divorcing you, I've a lawyer that says your failure to make me a father is unreasonable behaviour. Don't try to stop or follow me.

Bob.'

Pat glared at the paper. She had been pregnant as a young wife but he had ended that. She shook her head; angry with him. With herself. She had no idea how or why she hadn't known about the other woman. Shaking with anger she re read the letter. Bob had lied and cheated, beaten her black and blue and it was her he tried to blame? Marek had been right, he was nothing but a bully and coward. Why he had decided now was the time to tell the truth she had no idea but she knew someone who just might. Standing she fastened the button on her coat before heading out of the house.

Xxxxx