Babs shook her head.‘Apart from I don’t want to be with Pete anymore, I haven’t a clue what’s next or how to go about it. That’s what scares me. The unknown. And how I’m going to get from where I am to something else. A future I can’t even see or imagine. I just know it’s out there.’
‘That’s understandable. And it’s a big thing, serious stuff, leaving your husband and family, but they’re not little kids anymore, Babs. And I can tell from what you said before that you’ve been agonising over it for a while. One thing I am pleased about is that you’ve decided to leave and not do what some women do and kick their husbands out.’
‘Oh no, I couldn’t do that. It’s my choice to end things so I have to be the one to go. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself and anyway, where would he go? I want us to part amicably for everyone’s sakes. He’s not a bad bloke and it may sound two-faced, but I do want him to be happy.’
Bridie nodded, then made an offer. ‘You’re more than welcome here, that’s a given. There’s two spare rooms up there so you won’t be homeless.’
At this, Babs’ whole body relaxed. ‘Thanks, Mum. Are you sure you wouldn’t mind? I know you like your independence.’
‘I am independent whether you live here or not and this will always be your home and there will always be a welcome under its roof. Just say the word and I’ll air your old room out, okay.’
Babs welled; a nod of acceptance was all she could manage.
‘But before we become roomeys or whatever they call it, I think you need a holiday and I know just the place to go.’ Bridie gave Babs a wink.
‘Tom’s?’
Bridie smiled. ‘Yes. You should go and stay with our Tom and Cris. It’s still lovely over there this time of year and it’ll do you good, seeing them. And he’ll spoil you rotten which is what you need right now. You’ll be able to put some space between you and Pete once you’ve told him how you feel.’
A bloom of happiness swelled inside Babs at the thought of going to Tom’s and yes, putting a thousand miles between her and everything. Time to think and work out some kind of plan.
‘Okay. Tom’s it is. Which reminds me. Where do you come into this boat thing, because from what I heard earlier, you’re involved, too?’
Bridie gave Babs a knowing smile. ‘Oh I am. But only in that I’ve given them some money towards doing it up and getting it ship-shape for next year. See what I did there, ship-shape.’ Bridie chuckled at her own pun while Babs rolled her eyes.
‘They want to do a full refit of the interior and that won’t be cheap so I’m helping out. We all know there’s no pockets in shrouds and I’d rather him have some of his inheritance now when it’s useful. You’ll both have to wait till I pop my clogs to get half each of this place which is worth a bob or two, I reckon.’
‘Mum! I wish you wouldn’t keep saying that. I’d rather you live forever than get a share of your house. God you can be so morbid sometimes and I have to say, this lottery win seems to be going a very long way. How much did you actually win? I know it’s your closely guarded state secret, but I’m curious, and so is Tom.’
Bridie chuckled. ‘Well our Tom knows now, ’cos I’ve just told him, and he made me promise I’d tell you, too.’
Babs waited.
Bridie had a glint in her eye that said she was going to enjoy her moment. ‘I won eight hundred and forty-nine thousand pounds and seventy-two pence precisely!’
‘Oh my dear God!’ Babs was stunned. Her hands automatically covered her open mouth.
‘And before you ask, the reason I never told you at the time, is because there was bugger-all any of you could do with it. We were in lockdown and if I’m honest, in your case, my reasoning was entirely spiteful and selfish.’ Bridie was known for being forthright and her honesty came as no shock, yet her motive left Babs slightly hurt.
‘Why, what have I done to upset you?’
Bridie tutted. ‘Nowt, love, so don’t look so crestfallen. It’s that great gormless lummox of a husband of yours that I’m peeved with, and I’ll be jiggered if I’m giving him any of my winnings. Thing is, seeing as you’re wed, owt I give you will be half his. And he doesn’t deserve it. He thinks he’s a hero if he changes a bloody plug!’
Babs was speechless. She couldn’t even find the words to defend Pete or be hurt that her mum regarded Cris as more worthy. It didn’t even seem unfair because when it came down to it, it was her mum’s money to do with as she wished.
Bridie elaborated. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I was dying to tell you all and have a big party to celebrate. I don’t know how many times I almost rang you, but something told me not to. Call it a gut feeling. I thought loads about how the money could help you all, making lists of who’d get what but at the time, when the world was going to pot it actually felt wrong, and also a bit redundant.’ Bridie stood, never one for being still, and set about fetching plates and plopping teabags into mugs as she spoke.
‘Nobody could go anywhere. And the more I thought about it, people losing their lives and loved ones, I didn’t want it to be wasted on something trivial like a holiday to Disneyland or a fancy car… stuff like that. Life had suddenly become very precious, so I decided that once we came out the other side I’d make sure it was put to good use. I made a new will, so it was all written down just in case that horrible germ got me, and then I bided my time.’
‘Oh, Mum. I know it was a nice thing to happen, but it makes me feel a bit upset, thinking of you keeping it to yourself and worrying about it all. If you’d told me I’d have understood.’
Bridie opened the cutlery drawer and brought knives and forks to the table. ‘I know you would but at the same time you’d have been keeping a secret from your husband and that’s not right. To put you in that predicament.
‘And as I said before, he’s legally entitled to half of anything you have, I know, I checked with my solicitor. I’m sorry, Babs, because I know it sounds mean but he’s not getting the very large lump of money I will be giving to you once you’ve sorted yourself out. Do you understand?’
Babs nodded.
‘The kids will be all right, too, but they’ll have to wait for theirs – especially Isaac who, in my opinion, is taking the bloody piss now, especially as he’s going to be a dad.’
