You wont believe whats been going on with Emily and James lately. So, Jamess other woman is absolutely stunning the kind of girl youd pick for yourself if you were a bloke. You know the type: she knows her worth, walks with confidence, looks straight at you, actually listens. She doesnt fidget, she doesnt have to flash her cleavage or back to get attention; shes regal, calm, never loses her nerve.
Emily would have chosen her too, if she could see herself in the mirror. Shes the exact opposite of that. Shes always rushing about, shouting at the kids and at James, dropping things left and right, never getting anything done. Works a mess, the bosss never happy. Shes stuck in loose trousers and hoodiesweaters because ironing a blouse feels like a fulltime job. Shes even forgotten the last time she ironed a ruffled top thank goodness the new dryer does most of the work, so the iron is almost redundant.
Meanwhile, the other woman, Olivia, is pure class. Her figure, posture, legs, hair, eyes, face you cant even breathe when you look at her! And she hasnt been able to breathe properly since she walked in on James. Actually, she spotted him by chance on a work trip out in a remote part of Manchester, ducked into the first coffee shop she could find for a quick bite. Work was done, hunger was real. The place was jampacked, but a corner table was free, so she sat, skimmed the menu, lifted her eyes and there was James, from behind. And right next to him was Emily.
He was holding Olivias hands in his palms, kissing her fingertips. What a turnon, Emily thought, like your fingers smell of incense. The woman was, objectively, gorgeous.
Olivia ordered soup and a salad, ate it without really tasting it, and then lingered, waiting for them to leave. She was scared of being seen, but there was no point James wasnt interested in anyone else at that moment.
It felt like that odd numbness you get after a burn you see the skins red mark and know the pains coming, but for those few seconds you just hang there, trying to fan the hot spot to lessen the hurt. It should have hurt, but inside it was empty.
James came back on time, as calm and eventempered as ever. Emily, always in a hurry, was the one who made a fuss, while James is the solid, easygoing kind with a good sense of humour. She could do with that humour right now. It just didnt fit the situation.
All evening she imagined asking him, deadpan: Hows your mistress? Saw you two at that cafe in Manchester, shes lovely, I get it, Id be tempted too. Shed love to watch him break into a cold sweat, turn red, try to keep his composure. Then shed say, So what now? Introduce the kids, theyll need to like the new mum, and what about me? Am I getting a flat or do you bring me home? She never actually said any of that. James just pulled her into bed, held her close, and fell asleep.
Maybe they havent been sleeping together yet, she thought, sliding over to her side of the bed and giggling silently. She was thinking like a woman caught redhanded, yet still telling everyone it was just a mirage. Maybe theyre still in the first stage the flirt, the breathless thoughts in sync. James is a secret lover in his own mind, but never says a word, never moves a muscle.
She tossed around in bed, woke up with a heavy head, moved slower than usual, got the kids ready for school, and went about the day as normal. She kept wondering what a woman does when she finds her husband has a side chick. Google it? It didnt help. No answers came from within either. Keep living?
Whats there to try? Shes already carrying on the same routine, James home on time, no lipstick on his shirt, no whiff of another perfume, the kids bouncing around, Sunday trips to the cinema. Nothings changed. Sex still twice a week, sometimes three if youre paying attention.
Did she mess up the café in that outoftown suburb? No. She called James at lunch, he didnt pick up. She grabbed a taxi, tore back to the same coffee shop, made up a story for the driver about waiting for a parcel for work. Jamess car was parked across the street. He and Olivia got out together, hopped in, and drove off.
Emily went pale, asked the driver for water, pretended to call someone, shouted into the empty phone, Fine, Im done waiting, Im off to work! She didnt care what the driver thought.
Knowing you have a mistress can flip your life upside down. Divorce? Probably. How else to live? Put up with it? Why bother? She remembered a friends husband who had a side lover a couple of years back. He hid it, tried to mask it, but his wife found out anyway. There was a big blowup, he denied everything even when they had the chats saved on their phones. He claimed it was a smear campaign. Then he finally owned up, saying, Id never lie again. If you love your family, be brave enough to admit it, or leave but provide for them. Emily was proud of him for that honesty.
Its easy to solve someone elses mess from a distance, especially when youre not the one with the responsibility. But when youre in the thick of it, seeing both your wife and your lover at the same table, courage disappears in an instant.
So Emily walked back to their table, sat down on the free chair. Olivias eyes widened. James froze, then slumped on his seat. They all sat in stunned silence. It was almost funny to watch them. Olivia stared at her own reflection in Emilys eyes maybe shed guessed who she was.
James tried to say something, but Emily held up her hand and said, Thats not what I thought, is it? Honestly, theres nothing shocking about this. It happens. But think about how to untangle it the kids, the flat, the ageing parents. Youre smart, youll manage. Then she rose, the freshly ironed dress swaying, and left the café. Shed been meaning to wear it for ages.
