sex life with his wife, but it had always been there, hanging over their relationship like a dark cloud. Perhaps the same issue hung over every illicit relationship. What lover didn’t want to be the only one in their beloved’s life?
Logically, Ellie had always known that Alan and his wife must have some physical contact – otherwise Sylvia’s suspicions would be aroused. Now, as she looked at Alan’s wife across the coffee-shop table, she was having to confront his other life head-on. She’d never allowed herself to consider that the logical outcome of their occasional sexual activity could lead to another pregnancy.
Suddenly, Ellie realised that Sylvia had been talking to her, but she hadn’t heard a word.
‘P – pardon?’
Sylvia looked embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry for loading this on you, but I’ve no one else I can talk to. I really need a friend right now, and somehow I feel that I can trust you.’
Ellie nodded, since it seemed the easiest thing to do.
Sylvia took a deep breath. ‘I think my husband’s having an affair,’ she said softly.
Ellie gasped, wondering for a split second if Sylvia knew about her and was about to confront her.
‘Yes, I knew you’d be shocked,’ Sylvia said, looking miserable. ‘I was shocked, too. I’ve no idea who it is. Well, actually, I did suspect someone we socialise with, but now I’m not so sure and, anyway, I’ve no idea what to do about it.’ She looked imploringly into Ellie’s eyes. ‘You seem to be the kind of strong, independent woman who’d be worldly about this kind of thing. Have you any advice to offer me?’
Ellie felt as though she’d stepped into an alternate universe.
‘N – no, not really,’ she managed to say at last, but her voice sounded strangled and totally unlike hers. ‘I mean, it’s probably best to do nothing,’ she added lamely.
Sylvia nodded, seeming to hang on Ellie’s every word.
‘It’ll probably blow over,’ Ellie added again, trying to sound helpful. ‘These things usually do.’
Sylvia grasped Ellie’s hand gratefully. ‘Thank you,’ she said, a look of relief on her face. ‘You’ve no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that.’ She suddenly looked guilty. ‘I hope you’ll keep what I’ve told you to yourself –’
Ellie nodded, unable to speak. She felt she was suffocating, and she found it impossible to drink the coffee that had suddenly appeared in front of her. She began to stand up from the table, knowing that if she stayed there any longer, she was in danger of breaking down.
Sylvia looked startled. ‘Are you feeling sick? Are you sure you don’t need something to eat? I could ask the waitress to get you something –’
‘No, I’m fine, thanks,’ Ellie said, stumbling from the table. ‘But I have to go – it was nice meeting you.’
‘And you, too.’ I’ve embarrassed her, Sylvia thought to herself. Although I hardly know her, I’ve crossed the line by unfairly involving her in my problems. But I was desperate for some honest, womanly advice. No wonder she doesn’t want anything more to do with me.
‘Goodbye,’ Sylvia said sadly, desperately wishing that Ellie could have stayed longer ‘Good luck with your pregnancy.’
‘And you with yours,’ Ellie replied. Then she rushed out of the coffee shop and down the escalator as fast as she could. She desperately needed to get out of the department store. She was overwhelmed by the need for fresh air …
In the local park, Ellie sat down on a bench and cried. She felt totally betrayed by Alan. He’d known for at least a month, maybe even two, that Sylvia was pregnant, and yet he’d said nothing. He’d led her to believe that her own pregnancy was the most exciting thing that was happening in his life – whereas he was also having another baby with his wife!
As long as she hadn’t actually met Sylvia, Ellie had been able to imagine her as a vain, controlling, selfish woman, worthy of her hatred. But having discovered
Logically, Ellie had always known that Alan and his wife must have some physical contact – otherwise Sylvia’s suspicions would be aroused. Now, as she looked at Alan’s wife across the coffee-shop table, she was having to confront his other life head-on. She’d never allowed herself to consider that the logical outcome of their occasional sexual activity could lead to another pregnancy.
Suddenly, Ellie realised that Sylvia had been talking to her, but she hadn’t heard a word.
‘P – pardon?’
Sylvia looked embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry for loading this on you, but I’ve no one else I can talk to. I really need a friend right now, and somehow I feel that I can trust you.’
Ellie nodded, since it seemed the easiest thing to do.
Sylvia took a deep breath. ‘I think my husband’s having an affair,’ she said softly.
Ellie gasped, wondering for a split second if Sylvia knew about her and was about to confront her.
‘Yes, I knew you’d be shocked,’ Sylvia said, looking miserable. ‘I was shocked, too. I’ve no idea who it is. Well, actually, I did suspect someone we socialise with, but now I’m not so sure and, anyway, I’ve no idea what to do about it.’ She looked imploringly into Ellie’s eyes. ‘You seem to be the kind of strong, independent woman who’d be worldly about this kind of thing. Have you any advice to offer me?’
Ellie felt as though she’d stepped into an alternate universe.
‘N – no, not really,’ she managed to say at last, but her voice sounded strangled and totally unlike hers. ‘I mean, it’s probably best to do nothing,’ she added lamely.
Sylvia nodded, seeming to hang on Ellie’s every word.
‘It’ll probably blow over,’ Ellie added again, trying to sound helpful. ‘These things usually do.’
Sylvia grasped Ellie’s hand gratefully. ‘Thank you,’ she said, a look of relief on her face. ‘You’ve no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that.’ She suddenly looked guilty. ‘I hope you’ll keep what I’ve told you to yourself –’
Ellie nodded, unable to speak. She felt she was suffocating, and she found it impossible to drink the coffee that had suddenly appeared in front of her. She began to stand up from the table, knowing that if she stayed there any longer, she was in danger of breaking down.
Sylvia looked startled. ‘Are you feeling sick? Are you sure you don’t need something to eat? I could ask the waitress to get you something –’
‘No, I’m fine, thanks,’ Ellie said, stumbling from the table. ‘But I have to go – it was nice meeting you.’
‘And you, too.’ I’ve embarrassed her, Sylvia thought to herself. Although I hardly know her, I’ve crossed the line by unfairly involving her in my problems. But I was desperate for some honest, womanly advice. No wonder she doesn’t want anything more to do with me.
‘Goodbye,’ Sylvia said sadly, desperately wishing that Ellie could have stayed longer ‘Good luck with your pregnancy.’
‘And you with yours,’ Ellie replied. Then she rushed out of the coffee shop and down the escalator as fast as she could. She desperately needed to get out of the department store. She was overwhelmed by the need for fresh air …
In the local park, Ellie sat down on a bench and cried. She felt totally betrayed by Alan. He’d known for at least a month, maybe even two, that Sylvia was pregnant, and yet he’d said nothing. He’d led her to believe that her own pregnancy was the most exciting thing that was happening in his life – whereas he was also having another baby with his wife!
As long as she hadn’t actually met Sylvia, Ellie had been able to imagine her as a vain, controlling, selfish woman, worthy of her hatred. But having discovered
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