**Diary Entry 18th March**
*”I hope you’re ready for life without him,”* my best friend Emily said before driving off to meet my husband.
*”Did you see the queue at the doctors?”* Sarah shook raindrops off her umbrella and hung her coat on the hook in the hall. *”Three hours before I got seenabsolutely ridiculous.”*
*”Come in, come in,”* I said, filling the kettle and pulling out a tin of biscuits. *”What did the doctor say?”*
*”Same as always. Blood pressures all over the placeneed to stay on the tablets. No joking at our age, love.”*
Weve known each other thirty years, ever since we pushed prams around the same park. Our boys grew up togethersame nursery, same school. Holidays, barbecues, weekends awaythe families were inseparable.
*”Had a strange moment yesterday,”* I said, setting down two cups of tea. *”Walking back from Tesco, and who do I see? James. Arm in arm with some young woman. Spotted them from a distance, but he didnt see me.”*
Sarahs eyebrows shot up.
*”Maybe a colleague? Work thing?”*
*”On a Sunday? Hardly. And they werent acting professional, Ill tell you that. Laughing, her pressed up against himI thought I was imagining it at first.”*
*”And then?”*
*”Then I got a proper look. Definitely James. Wearing that jacket I got him for his birthday.”*
Sarah stirred sugar into her tea, thoughtful. *”Nat, have you thought maybe somethings off between you two? Hes been different lately.”*
*”Different how?”*
*”Dunno. Used to come to all the gatheringsBBQs, weekends at the lake. Now hes always got an excuse. Work, tired, whatever.”*
She wasnt wrong. James *had* been distanteither shut away at home or disappearing without explanation.
*”Maybe its his age,”* I offered weakly. *”Hell be fifty-five soon.”*
*”Or a midlife crisis,”* Sarah said carefully. *”You know how men get. Think their youths slipping away, start doing daft things.”*
I set my cup down with a clink. *”What are you getting at, Em?”*
*”Nothing specific. Just thinking aloud.”*
But I knew that look. Something held backsomething familiar I couldnt place.
*”Good thing Toms grown, living his own life,”* Sarah went on. *”Imagine the damage if his dad just upped and left.”*
*”Emily!”* I slammed my cup down. *”What are you on about? We were just talking about him with some woman! Couldve been nothing!”*
*”Course, course,”* she backtracked. *”Just talking.”*
We finished our tea, chatted about the rising cost of groceries, the miserable weather, the neighbours. As she left, she turned at the door.
*”Nat did you mention seeing James to him?”*
*”No. Why?”*
*”Just curious what hed say.”*
After she left, I paced. Her words stuck like a splinter. Was James really having an affair?
He came home at the usual time, kissed me, washed up, sat down to dinner. Nothing unusual.
*”How was your day?”* he asked, serving himself roast potatoes.
*”Fine. Emily came bymoaning about her doctor.”*
*”Right. Whats wrong with her?”*
*”Blood pressure. More pills.”*
James nodded and focused on his meal. I studied himshould I bring it up? Part of me wanted clarity; the other feared the answer.
*”James where were you yesterday?”* I finally asked.
*”Yesterday?”* He looked up. *”Out shopping. Needed new shoes.”*
*”And after?”*
*”Came home. Why?”*
*”Just wondering. Thought I saw you near the high street.”*
Not a flicker of guilt. *”Yeah, was there. Didnt find anything decent.”*
*”Who were you with?”*
*”With? No one. Went alone.”*
I watched him closely. Was he lying that easily? Or had I mistaken someone else for him?
That night, I barely slept. Tossing, listening to his steady breathing. Everything normal.
Next morning, James left early*”Big meeting.”* Id just started chores when Emily rang.
*”Nat, can I pop round? Need to talk.”*
She arrived anxious, clutching printouts.
*”Sit down,”* I said. *”Tea?”*
*”No tea. You need to hear this.”*
My stomach dropped. That tone never meant good news.
*”This is hard,”* she began, crumpling the papers. *”But as your friend, I have to tell you. James is having an affair.”*
The floor tilted. *”How do you know?”*
*”Lisa from his officeremember her? Shes seen them together. Him and some new receptionist.”*
*”A receptionist?”*
*”Young, mid-twenties. Pretty. Lisa says the whole office knows. Youre the only one in the dark.”*
She handed me photos. James, clear as day, wrapped around a blonde. Kissing, laughing.
*”Whered you get these?”* I whispered.
*”Lisa took them. Wanted you to know.”*
I stared. Twenty-eight years of marriage, and this?
*”What do I do?”*
*”Your call, love. But I couldnt keep it from you.”*
Emily went to the window. *”Maybe its for the best? Youre still youngcould find someone better.”*
*”For the best?* Were a *family*!”*
*”What family?”* she snapped. *”Wake up, Nat! He doesnt love youotherwise he wouldnt be shagging some girl!”*
Her tonetoo sharp, too invested.
*”Em why do you care so much?”*
*”Youre my best friend! Hurts to see you lied to!”*
But something rang false. I noticed thennew haircut, fresh manicure, a blouse Id never seen.
*”Nice top,”* I said. *”New?”*
*”Yeah, got it yesterday. Sale.”*
*”Expensive?”*
*”Not bad. Eighty quid.”*
Eighty quid was steep for Emily, a shop assistant always complaining about money.
*”Where from?”*
*”Just the high street. Cant remember which shop.”*
I nodded, setting the photos aside. *”Ill talk to James first. Get the truth.”*
*”Good idea,”* she said quickly. *”Dont wait too long.”*
After she left, I examined the photos again. Something felt off.
I called Tom.
*”Hey, love. Quick questionwhat department does Dad work in?”*
*”Accounts. Senior clerk. Why?”*
*”Any receptionists there?”*
He laughed. *”Mum, its all blokes and Doris from payroll. Why?”*
My pulse spiked. If no young women worked there, who was in the photos?
I studied them closely. The mans nose was wrong, the eyes different. Not James.
Emily had lied. But *why*?
That evening, I checked Jamess phone. Scrolled through messagesnothing suspicious, except frequent calls from Emily.
Their texts seemed harmless at first, but the volume was odd:
*”James, hows work?”*
*”Dont forget your pills.”*
*”Fancy a coffee?”*
*”Nats been complaining againso lonely.”*
The last one, sent this morning:
*”Spoke to her. Hope youre ready for life without her.”*
My hands shook. James had replied:
*”Thanks for looking out for me.”*
*”Cant meetNats suspicious.”*
*”Ill think about what you said.”*
Then, an hour ago:
*”Emily, Ive decided. Ill talk to Nat tomorrow.”*
Heart pounding, I put the phone back. James was leaving me. For *her*.
The next morning, James hesitated before work.
*”Nat, we need to talk tonight.”*
*”About what?”* I asked, though I knew.
*”Later.”*
After he left, I called Emily.
*”Come over. Need to show you something.”*
She arrived edgy. I handed her the printed texts.
She paled. *”Nat, its not what you think”*
*”Then explain.”*
*”Were just friends! I was worried about your marriage!”*
*”By
