the last person you’d want to hear from is me. I’ve never heard
him say a cross word about you. Even when I saw him and the twins before we
arrived in London, he said that he wished you were there.”
Stella pressed her fingers to her eyes, in the hope
it would stop her body from having such an instant and depressing reaction to
her mother-in-law’s words. “I have a divorce petition that says otherwise.”
Alwine reached across the bar and caught Stella’s
hand. “You will always be part of my family. And whatever he says, I know Niels
will always love you.”
“Thank you.” Stella’s voice cracked on the last
word. “Would you like another hot chocolate?”
“Yes, please. Without the hot chocolate this time.”
Chapter Nine
Dear Ms. Strøm,
Please find enclosed your Decree Absolute. This now brings your marriage
to a formal end. If you so wish, you may now revert to your maiden name,
Danquah…
She’d known the letter had been waiting for her. The boys were upstairs,
finally asleep, and she had the time to sit with it alone in her living room.
The wine tasted sour on her tongue, as the document that ended ten years of her
life lay on her coffee table, burned into her brain.
Her doorbell rang and she sprang to answer it, not even stopping to
think who it could be. It didn’t surprise her that Niels stood on the other
side of the door.
“Can I come in?”
“Still your house, so why not?” she retorted.
Standing to the side, she allowed him inside and watched him shrug his
cardigan from his shoulders. On anyone else, the garment would have looked
affected and far too metrosexual. But it suited him. Gave him a casual elegance
she would ultimately miss.
“What are you drinking?” he asked lightly, folding the cardigan onto the
arm of the sofa.
“That Cab Sav you were saving.”
“My fifteen-year red?”
“Yup.”
He sent her a devilish smile. “I should add that to my assets.”
“You don’t have many left,” she warned him. “Been drinking my way
through most of it.” She disappeared into the kitchen and reached for a glass
for him, her hand shaking. Unsure what emotion caused the trembling in her
limbs, she took several breaths before returning to the living room. Niels, sprawled
across the sofa, sat up slightly to take the glass from her and poured the ruby
rich liquid in a generous helping.
“Hmmm. Could have done with another twelve months, but it is delicious.”
He raised his glass, and now he was seated comfortably in her place.
Stella took the armchair and touched her glass to his. “To the end of an era.”
She couldn’t bring herself to speak. The anger that bubbled up inside
her threatened to fill the whole room. How could he be so blasé about their
marriage? All the work they’d put into their relationship? The times they’d
stayed up until the sun rose talking about their plans for the future? Those
plans were all now in ruins. Everything spoiled. Because he chose it to be this
way. And she hadn’t done anything to change his mind.
“Do you remember when we moved in here?”
Stella took a sip of wine before she answered him. “I believe we
conceived the twins in the spot you’re sitting. Cold floor, though. We hadn’t
unwrapped the sofa.”
Niels laughed. “I’m glad we got rid of that. Fucking awful.”
“You picked it.”
“Under duress.”
“You still picked it. And here we are, still living with the
consequences of your choices.”
They were silent, as Stella cursed herself for giving so much away in so
few words. “What would you change?” he asked quietly.
I wouldn’t divorce you for a start, you blockhead! “Regrets and wine are never a good thing.”
“I didn’t think it’d turn up so fast. I thought my solicitor would hold
it…”
“Haven’t you moved on already?” she asked.
“To what?” His eyebrows were practically knotted in confusion. “I’m not
getting married again, if that’s what you
him say a cross word about you. Even when I saw him and the twins before we
arrived in London, he said that he wished you were there.”
Stella pressed her fingers to her eyes, in the hope
it would stop her body from having such an instant and depressing reaction to
her mother-in-law’s words. “I have a divorce petition that says otherwise.”
Alwine reached across the bar and caught Stella’s
hand. “You will always be part of my family. And whatever he says, I know Niels
will always love you.”
“Thank you.” Stella’s voice cracked on the last
word. “Would you like another hot chocolate?”
“Yes, please. Without the hot chocolate this time.”
Chapter Nine
Dear Ms. Strøm,
Please find enclosed your Decree Absolute. This now brings your marriage
to a formal end. If you so wish, you may now revert to your maiden name,
Danquah…
She’d known the letter had been waiting for her. The boys were upstairs,
finally asleep, and she had the time to sit with it alone in her living room.
The wine tasted sour on her tongue, as the document that ended ten years of her
life lay on her coffee table, burned into her brain.
Her doorbell rang and she sprang to answer it, not even stopping to
think who it could be. It didn’t surprise her that Niels stood on the other
side of the door.
“Can I come in?”
“Still your house, so why not?” she retorted.
Standing to the side, she allowed him inside and watched him shrug his
cardigan from his shoulders. On anyone else, the garment would have looked
affected and far too metrosexual. But it suited him. Gave him a casual elegance
she would ultimately miss.
“What are you drinking?” he asked lightly, folding the cardigan onto the
arm of the sofa.
“That Cab Sav you were saving.”
“My fifteen-year red?”
“Yup.”
He sent her a devilish smile. “I should add that to my assets.”
“You don’t have many left,” she warned him. “Been drinking my way
through most of it.” She disappeared into the kitchen and reached for a glass
for him, her hand shaking. Unsure what emotion caused the trembling in her
limbs, she took several breaths before returning to the living room. Niels, sprawled
across the sofa, sat up slightly to take the glass from her and poured the ruby
rich liquid in a generous helping.
“Hmmm. Could have done with another twelve months, but it is delicious.”
He raised his glass, and now he was seated comfortably in her place.
Stella took the armchair and touched her glass to his. “To the end of an era.”
She couldn’t bring herself to speak. The anger that bubbled up inside
her threatened to fill the whole room. How could he be so blasé about their
marriage? All the work they’d put into their relationship? The times they’d
stayed up until the sun rose talking about their plans for the future? Those
plans were all now in ruins. Everything spoiled. Because he chose it to be this
way. And she hadn’t done anything to change his mind.
“Do you remember when we moved in here?”
Stella took a sip of wine before she answered him. “I believe we
conceived the twins in the spot you’re sitting. Cold floor, though. We hadn’t
unwrapped the sofa.”
Niels laughed. “I’m glad we got rid of that. Fucking awful.”
“You picked it.”
“Under duress.”
“You still picked it. And here we are, still living with the
consequences of your choices.”
They were silent, as Stella cursed herself for giving so much away in so
few words. “What would you change?” he asked quietly.
I wouldn’t divorce you for a start, you blockhead! “Regrets and wine are never a good thing.”
“I didn’t think it’d turn up so fast. I thought my solicitor would hold
it…”
“Haven’t you moved on already?” she asked.
“To what?” His eyebrows were practically knotted in confusion. “I’m not
getting married again, if that’s what you
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