“Hope youre ready for life without him,” said my friend before driving off to see my husband.
“Did you see the queue at the doctor’s today?” Emily shook the raindrops off her umbrella and hung her coat on the hook in the hall. “Sat there for three hours before I even got seen.”
“Come on in,” Natalie said, putting the kettle on and pulling out a tin of biscuits. “What did the doctor say?”
“Same as always. Blood pressures all over the placegot to take pills regularly. Not much to laugh about at our age, Nat.”
Theyd known each other over thirty years, met back when they were on maternity leave, pushing prams round the same park. Their sons had grown up together, gone to the same nursery, then the same school. The families had been closebirthdays, holidays, weekends away.
“Listen, something happened yesterday,” Natalie said, setting down two mugs and sitting across from her friend. “I was coming back from the shop, and who do I see? Simon. Arm in arm with some young woman. Spotted them from a distancehe didnt notice me.”
Emily raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe a colleague? Work thing?”
“On a Sunday? And they werent exactly keeping it professional, Ill tell you that. Laughing, her leaning into him. At first, I thought I was seeing things.”
“And then?”
“Then I got a proper look. Definitely Simon. Wearing that new jacket I got him for his birthday.”
Emily poured the tea, stirring in sugar thoughtfully.
“Nat, have you ever thought… maybe somethings not right between you two? Simons been different lately.”
“Different how?”
“I dunno. He used to come on all the group outingsbarbecues, weekends away. Now its always work, or hes tired, or some other excuse.”
Natalie frowned. Her friend wasnt wrong. Lately, Simon was either at home, distant, or off doing his own thing.
“Maybe its just his age,” she said uncertainly. “Hell be fifty-five soon.”
“Or the oppositea midlife crisis,” Emily suggested carefully. “You know how men get sometimes. Think their youths slipping away, start doing daft things.”
Natalie set her cup down with a faint clink.
“Whatre you getting at, Em?”
“Nothing specific. Just thinking out loud.”
But Natalie could tell she was holding back. There was something in her eyesfamiliar, but she couldnt place it.
“At least Daniels grown up, living his own life,” Emily went on. “Imagine how awful itd be for a kid if Dad just up and left.”
“Emily!” Natalie slammed her cup down. “What are you on about? Who said anything about leaving? We were just talking about Simon being with some womanmaybe she was asking directions!”
“Right, right,” Emily said quickly. “Im not saying anythings happening. Just talking.”
They finished their tea, chatted about rising prices, the weather, the neighbours. As Emily left, she turned at the door.
“Nat, did you tell Simon about seeing him?”
“Not yet. Why?”
“Just curious. Wonder what hed say.”
After shed gone, Natalie paced the flat, restless. Emilys words nagged at her. Was Simon really having an affair?
He came home at the usual time, kissed her, washed his hands, sat down to eat. Nothing out of the ordinary.
“How was your day?” he asked, serving himself potatoes.
“Fine. Emily came over, talked about her doctors visit.”
“Oh? Whatd they say?”
“Same oldblood pressure meds.”
Simon nodded and focused on his food. Natalie watched him, debating whether to bring up yesterday. Part of her wanted clarity. The other part feared the answer.
“Si, where were you yesterday?” she finally asked.
“Yesterday?” He looked up. “Just shopping. Looking for new shoes.”
“And after?”
“Went home. Why?”
“No reason. Thought I saw you near the mall.”
Simon didnt flinch.
“Yeah, was there. Didnt find anything decent.”
“Who were you with?”
“With? No one. Just me.”
Natalie studied him. Could he really lie so easily? Or had she mistaken someone else for him?
That night, she lay awake, listening to Simons steady breathing. Everything seemed normal.
Next morning, he left early for work”big meeting.” Natalie was about to start chores when Emily called.
“Nat, can I pop round? Need to talk.”
“Course, come over.”
Emily arrived quickly, flustered, clutching papers.
“Sit down, Ill put the kettle on,” Natalie offered.
“Dont bother. You need to hear this.”
Natalies stomach dropped. Emilys tone didnt sound good.
“Look, this is hard to say,” Emily began, crumpling the papers. “But Im your friendIve got to tell you the truth.”
“What truth?”
“About Simon. I found out… hes having an affair.”
The floor seemed to vanish beneath Natalie.
“How do you know?”
“Sarah Lewis told meremember her? Works at Simons office. Shes seen them together loads. Its the new receptionist.”
“The receptionist?”
“Yeah. Pretty young thing, mid-twenties. Sarah says everyone at work knowsjust not you.”
Emily handed over printed photos. There was Simon, arm around a smiling blonde. Kissing, laughing.
“Whered you get these?” Natalie whispered.
“Sarah took them on her phone. Wanted you to knowasked me to tell you.”
Natalie stared. Twenty-eight years of marriage, and here he was, wrapped around someone else.
“What do I do now?” she asked, dazed.
“Dont know, love. Your life, your choice. But I couldnt keep it from you.”
Emily stood by the window.
“Nat, maybe its for the best? Youre still young, gorgeous. Youll find someone better.”
“How is this for the best?” Natalie snapped. “Were a family! Weve got a son, a home, a life together!”
“What kind of family is it if hes cheating?” Emily turned sharply. “Open your eyes! He doesnt love youwhy else would he mess around?”
Something in Emilys voice set off alarms. Too invested, too emotional.
“Em, why do you care so much?” Natalie asked slowly.
“Because youre my best friend! It kills me seeing you lied to!”
But it rang false. Natalie noticed things shed missednew haircut, fresh nails, an expensive blouse.
“Nice top,” she said. “New?”
Emily glanced down.
“Yeah, got it yesterday. Sale.”
“Expensive?”
“Not too bad. Two hundred quid.”
Two hundred was steep for Emily, who worked retail and always complained about money.
“Where from? Might get one myself.”
“Just the mall. Cant remember which shop.”
Natalie nodded, setting the photos aside.
“Look, Em, Ill talk to Simon first. Get the full story. Then Ill decide.”
“Course,” Emily agreed quickly. “Smart. Just dont wait too long.”
After she left, Natalie scrutinised the photos. Something felt off.
She called her son.
“Daniel, love, quick questionwhere exactly does your dad work? Which department?”
“Er, finance? Senior accounts. Why?”
“Any receptionists there?”
Daniel laughed.
“Mum, what? Finance is blokes and one woman near retirement. Dads mentioned herGail.”
Natalies pulse quickened. If Simon worked in finance, where did the receptionist come from?
She checked the photos again. The mans nose was wrong, the eyes different. Not Simon.
So Emily had lied. But why?
That evening, Simon came home as usual. Natalie didnt mention the photosnot yet.
“Si, tell me about work,” she said over dinner.
“Work? Like what?”
“Just… who you work with, office dynamics.”
Simon talked about his colleague Mark, Gail the office know-it-all, their boss who loved pointless meetings.
“Any younger staff?”
“In finance? Nah. Were all over fifty. Why?”
“Just wondering. Emily said your office has loads of young people.”
“Other departments, yeah. Not ourstoo dull.”
Next day, Natalie waited outside Simons office. He left alone, looking tired, headed straight for the bus. No meet-ups, no receptionist.
At home, she studied the photos with a magnifier. The man wasnt Simon.
So Emily had faked them. But why?
Then it hit herEmilys lingering looks at Simon at his last birthday party. The way shed asked about their marriage. The new clothes.
Was Emily in love with her husband?
That night, while Simon shower
