Read Online Yours Unfaithfully by Geraldine C. Deer - Free Book Online
Authors: Geraldine C. Deer
Ads: Link
was on the cards it seemed things had taken a turn for the worse.
Now they were all off out and he would be left to fend for himself for most of the day. Just for once, he thought, I don’t want to fix anyone’s car; instead I wish I could fix my marriage. He slumped at the kitchen table, his hands clasped around a mug of tea. All around him his family was rushing about with a purpose. James was spreading sheets of music across the table in preparation for his performance and Amy was trying to sort out the make up bag that she was taking with her.
While Melanie was upstairs getting ready, it dawned on Tim that he was the only one who had nothing worthwhile to do. He wasn’t part of the mad scrabble to get to the next activity. He sometimes took Henry to football if Melanie was out with James but today he wasn’t even needed for that, he was surplus to requirements, no one needed him, and he had no purpose to serve.
Melanie came into the kitchen looking as beautiful as ever. He knew that she’d been up for hours while he’d had a ‘lay in’. She was a picture of perfection while he had simply thrown on his old joggers and a scruffy t-shirt. He hadn’t even combed his hair or showered, for which he now felt ashamed. As he stared vacantly into the mug of steaming tea, he reflected on Melanie’s importance to the family, he took a minute to see her for what she really was, a successful career woman, a proud mother to their three children, and most of all a very desirable wife.
Was it any wonder she’d called a halt to his marital rites? Tim looked down at himself and cursed silently for not getting up earlier, for not getting showered and for not getting dressed properly. He could have offered to go with them, spend the day with them. They could have eaten out at a pub somewhere after James had finished his music session.
Now it was too late. They were already carrying their stuff out to Melanie’s car. Amy ran back and kissed him before chasing out to catch the others, James shouted, “Bye Dad.” Melanie briefly looked back and asked, “Will you be wanting an evening meal tonight Tim? If not I thought we’d stop off at McDonalds on our way back and get something.”
“No, I’ll be OK, I’ll get myself something,” he said miserably. “Have a good time.” He wanted to say more but they were already gone. The car door slammed and Melanie tooted, probably to Nina next door.
He didn’t even know where they were going. If only he’d shown more interest he could get washed and dressed and catch them up. Not as good, going in two vehicles as going together, but it would be better than spending the entire day alone. It would be too embarrassing to ring Mel and ask her just minutes after she’d left and, anyway, she wouldn’t answer while she was driving.
Maybe Nina was in her front garden, if so she’d have seen them leave, she’d know where they were heading off to. He was ashamed to admit it but Nina knew more about his family’s activities than he did. How could he explain going round to ask her? ...it was so obvious that he was only going after them because he was lonely. What a pathetic mess I am, he thought, as he studied himself in more detail, trying to picture himself as Melanie might see him. She used to be so proud of her ‘big lad’, her prize mechanic who could fix anything. She used to joke that no one should go on safari without Tim. He could make a nut and bolt out of a bucket of sand, she boasted. He’d fixed her Dad’s car not long after they started seeing each other. Soon he was called upon for advice on all manner of mechanical things. When anyone in the family wanted a new car they would consult with Tim first to get his advice on what was or wasn’t a good model to own. That seemed years ago. It was ages since anyone in the family had asked his advice on cars. In fact, he reflected, it was ages since anyone had asked his advice on anything. He stared at his big hands, his
Now they were all off out and he would be left to fend for himself for most of the day. Just for once, he thought, I don’t want to fix anyone’s car; instead I wish I could fix my marriage. He slumped at the kitchen table, his hands clasped around a mug of tea. All around him his family was rushing about with a purpose. James was spreading sheets of music across the table in preparation for his performance and Amy was trying to sort out the make up bag that she was taking with her.
While Melanie was upstairs getting ready, it dawned on Tim that he was the only one who had nothing worthwhile to do. He wasn’t part of the mad scrabble to get to the next activity. He sometimes took Henry to football if Melanie was out with James but today he wasn’t even needed for that, he was surplus to requirements, no one needed him, and he had no purpose to serve.
Melanie came into the kitchen looking as beautiful as ever. He knew that she’d been up for hours while he’d had a ‘lay in’. She was a picture of perfection while he had simply thrown on his old joggers and a scruffy t-shirt. He hadn’t even combed his hair or showered, for which he now felt ashamed. As he stared vacantly into the mug of steaming tea, he reflected on Melanie’s importance to the family, he took a minute to see her for what she really was, a successful career woman, a proud mother to their three children, and most of all a very desirable wife.
Was it any wonder she’d called a halt to his marital rites? Tim looked down at himself and cursed silently for not getting up earlier, for not getting showered and for not getting dressed properly. He could have offered to go with them, spend the day with them. They could have eaten out at a pub somewhere after James had finished his music session.
Now it was too late. They were already carrying their stuff out to Melanie’s car. Amy ran back and kissed him before chasing out to catch the others, James shouted, “Bye Dad.” Melanie briefly looked back and asked, “Will you be wanting an evening meal tonight Tim? If not I thought we’d stop off at McDonalds on our way back and get something.”
“No, I’ll be OK, I’ll get myself something,” he said miserably. “Have a good time.” He wanted to say more but they were already gone. The car door slammed and Melanie tooted, probably to Nina next door.
He didn’t even know where they were going. If only he’d shown more interest he could get washed and dressed and catch them up. Not as good, going in two vehicles as going together, but it would be better than spending the entire day alone. It would be too embarrassing to ring Mel and ask her just minutes after she’d left and, anyway, she wouldn’t answer while she was driving.
Maybe Nina was in her front garden, if so she’d have seen them leave, she’d know where they were heading off to. He was ashamed to admit it but Nina knew more about his family’s activities than he did. How could he explain going round to ask her? ...it was so obvious that he was only going after them because he was lonely. What a pathetic mess I am, he thought, as he studied himself in more detail, trying to picture himself as Melanie might see him. She used to be so proud of her ‘big lad’, her prize mechanic who could fix anything. She used to joke that no one should go on safari without Tim. He could make a nut and bolt out of a bucket of sand, she boasted. He’d fixed her Dad’s car not long after they started seeing each other. Soon he was called upon for advice on all manner of mechanical things. When anyone in the family wanted a new car they would consult with Tim first to get his advice on what was or wasn’t a good model to own. That seemed years ago. It was ages since anyone in the family had asked his advice on cars. In fact, he reflected, it was ages since anyone had asked his advice on anything. He stared at his big hands, his
Similar Books
