Page 19 of This is Where I Leave You

Priscilla wondered why all the secrecy, till she read the address on the telephone pad. Scribbled down in Dick’s own script was an address, not of Richard’s supposed new flat it seemed, but of an address they both knew, and had in fact visited before. For an

afternoon barbeque, of a person at work. A woman, no less. So Richard hadn’t got a flat on his own, he had simply moved in with someone else, right from his wife’s bed to another’s. To say that he was a chip off the block was a heart shattering understatement. Priscilla ripped the paper from the pad and folding it primly in two, she placed it into her apron pocket and smoothed back her hair, ever the vision of immaculate perfection, feelings firmly put back in check.

This would not be the last of it, she knew that much.

The visit they had witnessed together had changed them as a couple, made them realise that they needed to pull it together or rip it asunder once and for all, for their sakes and for the memory of their son, and they had chosen to fight one last time for each other and their marriage. Finally forsaking all others on Dick’s part. Shame they had not realised it sooner; they had taught their only son the basics of living, appreciating the finer things in life, working hard, studying hard, achieving all, never having to struggle in life, but they never taught him how to be a man, a good man at least. Priscilla walked to her lounge dresser and gazed at the silver polished frames scattered across the surface. Richard from baby to independent being. His smiling face peered at her from mountain peaks, office desks, fire truck toys, and the church he got married in. Picking up the wedding frame, she thumbed the picture of Cady. The poor girl was going through so much, and her anger was penting everything up. She was acting like she herself had, the wronged wife, not the grieving widow. The rage was the cork in her emotions, stopping her from mourning Richard’s passing. And if everything came out, it would only get worse. So much worse. They had to find a way to help her. Picking up her bag, she walked out of the front door, trying her best not to throw herself on her son’s car and sob out her heart.

***

Marcus knocked at the door, flowers in hand, to be faced by a harassed looking Luke, dressed in a white shirt, blue jeans and bare feet. He had a cup of coffee in his hand and a pencil behind his ear.

“Hello, Marcus right? Come in please.”

Marcus was stunned momentarily, not for the first time that evening, and allowed himself to be shepherded into the lounge. Blueprints and plans covered every available space, apart from the couch, which held a very pale but smiling Cady, wrapped in a dressing gown and duvet. He perched on the couch next to her as Luke tried to do the same. Luke grinned at Cady knowingly.

“Coffee, Marcus?”

Marcus scowled at him irritably.

“Yes, two sugars and milk. Please,” he replied, practically spitting the last word at Luke’s retreating back. He lowered his voice.

“Cady, what’s going on? Who is this guy? He answers your mobile, your door, asks me to come ‘visit’?”

Cady smiled and sat up, stretching out her legs to the floor.

“Luke is my architect and builder. I am remodelling the house. I’m pregnant Marcus, and I am keeping it. I had a funny turn and Luke was….just there, luckily.”

Marcus stared at her in disbelief. His mouth was drying out, he could feel it, his tongue a hollowed husk rattling around his dusty cavern. He put the flowers done on top of a stack of papers.

“I have no right to ask, but us?”

Cady looked down.

“Marcus, my husband destroyed my faith in men. Now he is dead, and you were his best friend, and with the baby coming, it’s just not going to happen..”

She looked at him through hooded lids. Truth was, she wanted him to fight for her. She did not want to do this alone. And he was nice, he loved her, maybe it would work….

“Cady, I told you how I feel. That hasn’t changed.”

He looked her straight in the eye, and started to say something else. “But…I..”

Cady looked away.

“See, it wouldn’t work, I told you, it’s fine.”

Hearing Luke returning, Marcus cupped her chin in his hand and grabbing a quick kiss, he whispered urgently.

“Cady, we will make it work, meet me tomorrow, 1 o’clock, in the park?”

Cady breathed out slowly, taking in his words.

“Ok,” she whispered back.

Luke, hearing their conversation, slapped on an innocent smile and passed out the coffees. So, Marcus was going to swoop in was he? We will see, mate, I am here for a while yet, he thought to himself. Marcus was a flyboy, a suit, a player, he knew it from the off. Slow and steady wins the race Lukey boy. And now he had chance to know Cady, he was in this race for the long haul.

They chatted awkwardly for a while, mostly Cady and Luke telling Marcus about the plans for the extension and the remodel. The house would be like brand new, and work was due to start next month, once the plans had been finalised and the house prepared. No one spoke of the rooms with the closed doors and the possessions behind them, that would have to be dealt with very soon. Cady couldn’t face the thought, she wished that they could just remove the rooms entirely and start again. Still, she would have to tackle it sometime, and she would need help. Asking Luke seemed too weird. Maybe she would ask Marcus to help her tomorrow, that would still be weird, but he knew Richard, and the only other alternative was his parents, and Priscilla was still adjusting to life after son, she couldn’t put that on her.

Marcus left soon after; citing an early start at work, but Cady could tell he looked tired and a bit stressed. Thinking it was work being busy with Richard gone, she didn’t mention it to him. They would talk tomorrow.

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