Page 55 of Another Lucky Number

‘Me… too.’ She lets out a heavy, faltering sigh.

Sensing that she’ll be OK with some physical contact, I move myself onto her lounger to sit beside her and put my arm around her while she silently works through her turmoil. Heralmost hopeless demeanour reminds me of how I felt after my break up with my ex, Dave, a few weeks back. It’s a heartbroken cry – no question.

‘This is my honeymoon,’ Fiona says eventually. ‘It was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime. Us starting a new adventure together. I was so excited to become Mrs Lawson… and now… now I find out he never wanted to get married. Says I pressured him into it… thateveryonepressured him into it.’ She looks at me with devastated eyes. ‘But I didn’t. I would never do that. It was all in his head. He woundhimselfup.’

I keep quiet, giving her the space to vent as much as she needs, only speaking when it’s clear that she’s looking for input or emotional support from me.

‘Could it be a touch of post-wedding anxiety?’ I ask and she frowns.

‘I don’t think so. There were signs before the wedding. I just didn’t want to see them. I also think he might be cheating on me.’

I’ve been there, I think to myself, but I don’t verbalise this. Being cheated on by your boyfriend of four years is one thing, but by your new husband is quite another.

‘What makes you think he’s cheating?’ I ask instead.

‘He’s secretive with his phone. I’m not like that because I have nothing to hide. He knows my passcode, my email password, everything.’

‘But he won’t share his with you.’

‘No. I mean, I haven’t asked him to. I’d never ask that. It’s more that he doesn’t volunteer it and he always has his phone with him. He’s also stayed out all night a few times in recent months. Tells me he’s slept on his mate’s couch, but why would he choose to do that? We live ten minutes further down the road.’

‘I’m really sorry you’re feeling like this on your honeymoon.’I give her a sympathetic squeeze. ‘Have you tried talking to him?’

‘Yes.’ She blows her nose on a tissue she’s found in her beach bag. ‘But every time it turns into an argument. It’s like he resents me for everything.’

‘Well, I’m sorry to say it, but it doesn’t sound like he’s behaving like a grown up – and certainly not a husband.’

‘Maybe itisall my fault.’ Fiona hangs her head miserably. ‘Maybe I did unintentionally push him into this, and that drove him to—’

‘Hey, let’s not have any of that,’ I say. ‘You haven’t forced him into anything. Or driven him to anything. He’s a big boy who’s perfectly capable of making his own decisions. If he’s playing the victim and he’s allowed himself to get married without wanting to, then I’m afraid that’s on him. You’re not responsible for his decisions or his behaviour. And you certainly don’t deserve to be treated like this.’

‘You sound like you’re talking from experience.’

‘I am. Sort of. I was living with an arrogant pig until recently. He dumped me in a very cruel way and then it turned out he was cheating. I blamed myself – as you’re doing right now – but ultimately, I realised that I’m better off without him.’

‘Good for you.’ She gives a weak smile. ‘I wish I was that strong.’

‘You’re stronger than you know,’ I assure her. ‘But you won’t find that out until you’re really tested. Could you perhaps find a way to work it through with your husband in a safe environment – maybe somewhere public? So you can ask the questions you want answers to without him blowing up at you.’

‘You know, I never thought of that.’ Fiona lifts her head and looks at me, the faintest glimmer of hope in her eye. ‘I’m going to tell Neil I want to talk over a drink in the bar. He’ll never make a scene there. Thank you, Emma. You’ve been so kind letting me vent like this.’

‘Not at all. We ladies have to stick together, eh? Whichever way this goes, remember it’ll all work out in the long run. You deserve to be with a man who adores you, and if that man isn’t your new husband, then it will be someone else.’

‘You’re right, again. Idodeserve more. Thank you for helping me see that. I’m going to do it now. Wish me luck.’

‘Good luck. You’ve got this.’

I feel sad for Fiona as I watch her gather her things and leave the poolside, but at least she’s looking more together than when she arrived. It must be awful being in her position – especially having it happen while away from home.

While contemplating this, I become aware of some activity behind me. I turn to see what’s going on, and before I have time to register anything, I’m hit square in the face by two powerful jets of water – and this time there’s no question that the two little shits have done it on purpose.

‘Arghh!Are you kidding me?Right, that’s it...’ I quickly wipe my face with my towel and take off across the poolside after them.

Chapter Twenty-Three

‘Come here, you wee monkeys!’

I’m barefoot, tearing across the grass in hot pursuit of my miniature assailants, when I hear someone shout my name. Fuelled by the unwillingness to allow the little monkeys to escape, I ignore whoever is calling me. That is, until I hear my name a second time and come to my senses. Halting suddenly, I slowly turn in the direction of the voice and my heart sinks.

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