Page 72 of The Runaway Wives

‘Feel free. There’s fresh towels in the cupboard, if you fancy a shower when you’re in there.’

She did. She went to the loo then got a surprisingly soft towel out of the cupboard, hung it on the towel rail by the shower cubicle and stepped inside. As she soaped the suds into her body she closed her eyes imagining Kenny’s hands, and tongue, caressing her body last night. Yes, she definitely did want a replay.

She wrapped the towel around herself and padded back into the bedroom as her phone rang. It was Babs. What had happened? She thought in panic, pressing the green button to answer.

‘Put the kettle on, we’ll be there in ten minutes,’ Babs said.

‘You’re coming to Port Telwyn?’ Dee stammered, unable to hide the shock in her voice!

‘Yes, we came down to surprise you. I wanted to show you the new camper van and congratulate you on making an offer on Edna’s cottage. We left early so we can make a day of it.’

Sugar! Babs and Geoff were on their way to see her! She had to get home quickly!

She was hastily pulling on her clothes when Kenny came back with a tray containing their breakfast.

‘Wow! Was last night so bad that you can’t wait to get away?’ he asked, his eyes twinkling.

‘Babs and Geoff are on their way to visit, they will be at Primrose Cottage in a few minutes. I have to get home.’

Kenny placed the tray on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed. ‘Why not tell them to come here?’

She stared at him. ‘What?’

‘You don’t have to hide our relationship, Dee, especially from your friends.’

He was right, she didn’t. And Babs would be pleased for her, she knew she would.

‘I’m wearing yesterday’s clothes and no make-up,’ she remembered.

He kissed her on the nose. ‘And you look beautiful.’

She thought of how Nigel had always made her feel inadequate if she wasn’t wearing full make-up and dressed immaculately. How different Kenny was. She picked up her phone and texted:

I’m actually at Kenny’s. You’re welcome to pop around but you’ll have to take us as you find us.

She added Kenny’s location. Babs texted right back:

Hooray!

48

SIX MONTHS LATER

Dee read the letter slowly. That was it then, the divorce would soon be finalised. To her surprise, Nigel had been eager to settle and get the divorce through as soon as possible. She would have enough money to buy Edna’s cottage with £50,000 left over, which would cover all the things she wanted to do to the cottage and leave her quite a bit spare. She could probably have fought for more, as her solicitor had pointed out she’d worked unpaid for Nigel for years and helped him build up his business. Nigel still had most of his pension and stocks and shares, but she was happy with what she’d got. She loved this cottage, and living in Port Telwyn. She’d made a wonderful life here. And she had more than enough money to live on as she was working regularly in Moira’s Café. Moira had come back to the café now her daughter was better but she had asked Dee to stay on part time, which Dee was happy to agree to.

Loki, Dee’s rescue dog, barked at her and Dee patted the little tri-coloured cockapoo’s head. ‘Yes, it’s time for our walk, come on.’ She took down the lead from the hook where she kept it and fastened it onto Loki’s collar. Then she set off down to the beach. It was out of season now, so Loki could be let off her lead and run free. She really enjoyed that, running in and out of the waves, barking with happiness. Dee no longer walked Betsy because the Slaters’ son had bought one of the affordable housing apartments in the new development and he and his wife and children now lived down here. The Slaters were so happy. They popped into the café now and again to say hello and catch up with Dee.

A paper bag floated towards her as they walked along and Dee put it into the rubbish bag she always carried with her when she took Loki for a walk along the beach. They still had regular beach clean-up days, so there wasn’t that much litter about, but there was always someone who couldn’t be bothered to walk to the nearest bin, and sometimes the sea brought litter ashore.

She heard a shout and turned to see Glenn and Sammi, walking across the sand towards her. She waved to them.

‘We’ve been collecting shells,’ Sammi said, showing Dee her bucketful of assorted shells. ‘I’m going to wash them and make a treasure box with them.’

Dee smiled. ‘Another craftswoman in the making here,’ she said to Glenn.

He thrust his hands in his pockets. ‘I never did thank you properly for, you know, what you did. Getting me that job and home.’

‘It was Gordon’s idea.’

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