‘Tis the Season to be Single: A feel-good festive romantic comedy for 2018 that will make you laugh-out-loud!. Laura Ziepe
be coming Christmas Day now so you’ll get to know her properly. Mum and Michael love her too.’
Amber twisted her fingers feeling awkward and left out for some unknown reason. She racked her brains. She vaguely remembered him talking about a Natalya last time they met, but she hadn’t paid much attention. She had thought Natalya was just another one of Jack’s girls. There had been nothing he’d said to make her think otherwise, she was sure of it. Her eyes swept over Jack’s joyous expression and she forced herself to smile back. ‘That’s amazing news,’ she told him. ‘Wow, I can’t believe it. What made you propose so soon?’ she wondered. She’d never been so astounded. They’d always discussed how marriage was bullshit. They’d shared the same views. How had Jack changed his mind in just over two months and found the girl he wanted to marry so quickly? It was surreal.
‘I’ve been with her for four months.’ He smiled gaily. ‘I know it’s not long, but when you know, you know, right?’
Amber shrugged, discomfited. ‘I wouldn’t know.’ She knew she was being pathetic, but she hated the fact that Jack had made such a huge decision and she was only just finding out about it now. ‘When did this happen?’ She was unable to hide the shock in her voice.
‘A week ago.’ He raised his shoulders casually. ‘We didn’t want to announce it on social media or anything cheesy. I wanted to tell you and your mum in person, though your mum’s meeting my mum tonight so I think Mum’s probably beaten me to it.’ He gave a slight laugh.
There was a long pause. ‘Well, congratulations,’ she finally said, attempting brighter tones.
He tugged at her hand across the table. ‘Hey, you’re happy for me, right?’ He gave her a hopeful expression and it melted her heart.
How could Amber not be happy for him? He was the closest person to her and she didn’t know what she’d do without him in her life. Jack was everything to Amber; if he’d found love and was only just telling her now, she needed to get over it and wish him the best, despite feeling a little out of the loop. A little left behind. She hadn’t met Natalya, but as Jack had said, they’d most likely get on like a house on fire. They had to if Natalya was going to be Jack’s wife. ‘Of course I’m happy for you,’ Amber squeezed his hand back. ‘I’m just shocked, that’s all. I never thought you’d get engaged at all, let alone after four months to someone I don’t even know. It’s just a lot to take in, but if you’re in love, then that’s great news.’
‘I am, Amber. I really am in love. Miracles really do happen,’ he laughed. ‘I’m meeting her and her parents for dinner after this. I’ll arrange a get together for the three of us as soon as I can, I promise.’
Amber stood up to hug him. ‘Congratulations again,’ she said, holding him close and taking in the scent of his citrus and sandalwood. She closed her eyes as she held him tightly, still unable to believe that Jack was really getting married. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t erase the feeling of hurt, yet she knew she was being ridiculous. He’d gone back on his word and decided that actually, marriage was right for him. What next? Children? It was laughable, yet now he was engaged, it didn’t seem so weird at all. Jack would make a great father. It all just seemed such a shock. A big surprise to take on board. How had Natalya changed his mind so quickly? She must be some woman, Amber thought sourly. But as Amber gazed at Jack’s beatific expression she knew it was love.
She just didn’t know why she felt so sad about it.
Grace exhaled as she heard the front door close. As she’d heard Simon fumbling with his key outside a few moments ago, she hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath. How silly. She was awkward and uncomfortable living with her own husband like he was a stranger. It reminded her of when she’d started university and had to share a house with ten other people she’d only just met. The tiptoeing to the bathroom in the middle of night, careful not to wake the others up. The uneasy feeling when someone spotted her in her pyjamas with no make-up on. It had taken a while to feel relaxed and get to know the others. But with Simon, things were only going to get worse. She already knew everything about him. She was only going to feel more anxious being in his presence. He hadn’t been out much since they’d split, but how would she feel if he started dating? She couldn’t imagine seeing him making an effort, dressing up and splashing on some aftershave to impress another woman. But one day he would. Yet another reason she needed to change her living arrangements as soon as possible. Simon most likely felt the same, she thought worriedly.
It was Simon who had offered to sleep in the spare room, so Grace would be kind enough to read or just browse online in her bedroom for the evening and let him have the front room. The spare room didn’t have a television, and besides, Grace felt guilty seeing as she was the one to call their separation on. Sorry I don’t want to be with you, oh and no television either, seemed a bit harsh.
‘Hi,’ Simon stood by the door to the front room at the same time Grace switched off the TV.
Grace looked up at him, feeling saddened by his appearance. He looked well and truly depressed, the dark circles under his eyes suggesting he hadn’t been sleeping properly. He was such a tall man with broad shoulders, something that had instantly attracted her, but he seemed to have shrunk lately. Like he was a balloon that someone had deflated slightly.
‘Hey,’ Grace replied. ‘You’re back late. Everything okay?’ She smiled at him, concerned about how he was feeling. She may not want to continue with the way things were in their marriage, but she still cared for Simon deeply. Loved him even. She just didn’t love the way he made her feel anymore.
‘Just working, that’s all,’ Simon replied distractedly.
‘I hope it’s all going well,’ she told him caringly. It would be awful if he was having problems at work too. Talk about bad timing.
‘Yeah, just really busy,’ he said sighing heavily.
‘Well, I’m going to go upstairs,’ Grace told him in formal tones, standing up. ‘Give you some space down here.’
He looked pained. ‘No, please don’t Grace. It’s your house too, and you shouldn’t have to keep running off up there, holed up in the bedroom. I wanted to talk to you.’ He cleared his throat, his expression grave as he stood opposite her.
Grace’s brow wrinkled and she prayed he wasn’t about to beg her for another shot again. It would never work, and she wasn’t going to be one of those women that fell for the ‘I’ll change’ garbage, only for things to return to normal after a month or so. She’d told him that. He knew she was too intelligent for that. Not for me, thank you very much.
‘I’m going to move out,’ Simon said in melancholic tones.
Grace had never seen him so serious before – like someone had died. ‘Right,’ she replied bravely, pretending she’d been expecting him to say it. Even though she knew they couldn’t continue their living arrangements, she hadn’t expected it to come from him. She genuinely thought he would happily stay with the way things were, though they were no longer together.
‘If you don’t want to be together, I just feel like it’s unhealthy for us to be living in the same house. It’s too hard to see you every day.’ His lips twitched showing he was discomfited and Grace had to stop herself from putting her arms around him. ‘I’m sure you agree it’s a bit … odd. You shouldn’t have to shut yourself away. So I’ll move out. You stay here. I’ll still pay half the mortgage until we decide what we want to do about the house and everything…’ He broke off.
Grace swallowed hard, her throat feeling as though it was closing up. ‘Thanks,’ she managed wanly. The thought of him going felt so final. It was finally dawning on her that they would no longer be a couple. The idea of selling their dream little house made her feel wretched too. They’d saved for almost a year to modernize