“Revenge”
“Listen, Liz, I promised a colleague Id help with his move today,” said Henry.
“Today?” Liz raised an eyebrow. “He just bought a two-bed flat, didnt he? His wifes about to have a baby.”
“And last Saturday you were out christening someones new car. All your mates seem so successful. Why is it just us with no new car, no big flat? Why, Henry?”
“Dont start, love. I promise, next weekends just us.” Henry pulled her close, meeting her eyes.
“Hard to believe. Every weekend its somethingsome ‘unexpected’ errand.” She stepped back.
“Fine, want me to call and cancel?” Henry scowled.
“No. You promised, so go.”
Henry perked up instantly. “Liz, youre an angel. Off I go, then?” He leaned in, but Liz pressed a hand to his chest, stopping him.
“Just dont forget your promise for next weekend,” she muttered.
***
The three of them had met at uni. Typical storyLiz fancied Henry, while Alex fancied her. They attended lectures together, went to the cinema, the lads walked her home. One day, Alex confessed.
“Sorry, but its Henry for me,” Liz admitted honestly.
“Fair enough. Cant force the heart,” Alex sighed.
After that, Alex stopped sitting with them, stopped walking her home. If they met at a café, hed leave early.
Henry had a small flat, inherited from his granddad. The whole group often gathered there. Liz came too but never stayed over, no matter how Henry coaxed her. Until New Years Eve. After that, they moved in together.
Alex rarely visitedcouldnt stand seeing his friends happiness.
“Whens the wedding?” he asked during their graduation celebration.
“Were fine as we are, eh, Liz?” Henry answered for them.
Liz looked down, silent.
“Youre wrong. Every girl dreams of a wedding, a white dress. Liz, dump him. Marry me instead,” Alex blurted.
Henrys expression darkened.
“Actually, Ive been meaning to propose. Just waiting for the right moment.” Henry pulled out a ring. “Will you marry me?” His gaze bore into her.
Liz flushed with joy. “Yes,” she said, not noticing Alex slip away.
Two months later, Alex stood as their witness. “Liz, if he ever hurts you, tell me,” he said at the reception.
“And when are you getting married?” Liz teased.
“Hes waiting for our divorce,” Henry laughed. “Keep dreaming.” He shot Alex a triumphant look.
“Enough,” Liz cut in. “Lets dance.” She tugged Henry from the table.
Three months into the marriage, Alex arrived at Lizs birthday with a bouquet of deep red roses. After the guests left, Henry fumed, accusing her of overreacting to the gift. Everyone had noticedit embarrassed him.
“Dont be jealous. I only love you,” Liz said.
“Hope so,” Henry muttered.
Three years passed. They were happy, but fights brewedmostly over Henrys jealousy. He seethed if men so much as glanced at Liz. He wanted her pregnant, at home.
But Liz wanted work experience first. Lately, Henry had been distantvanishing every weekend, irritable when home.
“Alex, is Henry seeing someone?” Liz asked one day.
“Liz, he loves you,” Alex said, avoiding her eyes.
“Youre a terrible liar,” Liz smirked.
***
Henry vanished again. Liz sighed, cleaning the flat. The doorbell rangnot Henry, he had a key. Alex stood there.
“You? Wheres Henry?” Liz asked.
“Hes not here? Mind if I come in? …So, where is he?”
“Helping someone move.”
“Right. Forgot.” Alex smacked his forehead. Liz eyed him but stayed silent.
They drank tea in strained silence.
“Liz, I still fancy you,” Alex said abruptly.
“Thought youd moved on.”
“Just wanted you to know.”
“I know.”
“Theres more.” Alex sipped his tea, avoiding her gaze.
“Should I be worried?”
“Henry thinks youre cheating. That youve got someone,” Alex blurted.
“Did he send you to spy? Theres no one. You said it yourselfI love him.”
“He asked me to flirt with you. Test you.” Alex reddened.
“A test? You agreed?”
“I refused at first. But you know Henryhed have found someone else. Better me than a stranger. He made me swear not to tell you.”
“Alex, seriously? You knew hed be gone and came anyway?”
“Liz, I came to confess. Thats all.” He wiped sweat from his brow.
“This is low. From both of you. People accuse others of what theyre guilty of. Is he cheating?”
“I dont know.” Alex stood, flustered.
“You should go.”
“Right. Liz, Im here if”
“Just go.”
Liz couldnt believe Henrys pettiness. Testing her through Alex? Or was Alex lying to split them? Her mind racedno answers, just anger. Maybe she shouldve been suspicious sooner. Where was Henry really?
She stayed calm, plotting. The next evening, Henry returned, oddly energised.
“Move go alright?” Liz asked.
“Mm.”
“Not even a drink to celebrate?”
“His wifes pregnant, like I said.”
“Alex dropped by. Why didnt you ask him to help?”
“Said he was busy. Whyd he come?” Henry avoided her gaze.
“Just chatted. Gave him tea.” She watched him closely.
“Im knackered. Off for a shower.”
Days later, Liz decided on revenge. A colleague, Evebold, flirtatiousagreed to help.
“You sure?” Eve grinned.
“Just a staged kiss. Nothing real.”
“Worth it, is he?”
“Very. Saturday, hell be home. Ill say a friend needs babysitting. You drop by to wait for me.”
“Regrets later?”
Liz hesitated. “Just do it.”
But as Saturday neared, doubt crept in. Was she stooping to his level? She rushed back, heart poundingjust in time to see Henry and Eve spring apart on the sofa.
“Liz?!” Henry scrambled up, dishevelled.
“Expecting someone else?”
Eve smoothed her dress, unfazed, and left. The door slammed.
“Liz, its not”
“Save it. My friend, our sofa. I timed it well.”
“She came onto me! Im only human”
“And you jumped at it. Were even now. I cant trust you. Ill have a baby, be stuck at home, while you help mates move? Or is that a lie too? Using Alex? Thats vile.”
“He told you?! That rat.”
“Hes my friend too. This isnt a game, Henry. If Id been later, would you have slept with her?”
“Liz, Im sorry”
“Stop. No more lies. Well divorce fastno kids. The flats yours; Ill leave.”
“To Alex?!”
“Idiot.” She scoffed.
At her parents, Liz confessed.
“Shouldve married properly first,” her mum sighed.
“Weve savings. Enough for a flat,” her dad grumbled.
“Dad, no”
“Just listen, for once.”
Autumn faded into winter. New Years Eve, Liz planned solitudeuntil Alex arrived with a tiny decorated tree.
“Knew youd be alone.”
“Howd you find me?” She nearly hugged him.
They drank under the clocks chime.
“Guess your wish,” Liz teased.
“Same as yours,” Alex smiled.
They laughed, lightness returning.
A year later, they married. Nine months after, twinstwo girlsarrived. Happiness, served full measure.
Sometimes revenge clarifies everything.
