Page 42 of Love Is: Two Bodies One Soul

Sitting there with the lawyer’s scrutinising eyes on him, Owen could see how life might have been different. If he had taken control and told Margaret to leave. It was his house, still was. He could have gone back to work, employed the nanny – had a life with Emi. He felt sick. Stupid. Pathetic.

‘Well then,’ Martin’s voice intruded on Owen’s thoughts. ‘We’ll send a standard letter but also apply for a judicial hearing just in case she won’t cooperate. I recommend initially we suggest weekly access. Can you provide suitable accommodation for an overnight stay if we try for one, maybe two, full weekend stopovers each month?’

Owen shook his head. ‘No, I … I’m still paying the mortgage on Antrim Road, so there’s not been much left for my place.’

‘Does she work?’

‘Sorry?’ Owen tried to focus on Martin. He was having difficulty concentrating. The thought that all his misery had been his own fault would not leave his head.

‘Your ex-wife, does she work?’ Martin repeated, his tone sharp.

‘Yes, she’s a director in a PR firm, Beka Morris.’

‘Then she could well afford to pay for her own accommodation?’

‘Probably.’ Owen shrugged.

Martin emitted a sound like a rapidly deflating balloon. ‘Did you have solicitors for your divorce?’

‘Yes, of course.’

‘Doesn’t seem they did much of a job,’ Martin muttered, scrawling another note. He looked up again at Owen. ‘Think about a malpractice action when all this is done. One of my colleagues can help you with that. There is no way you should pay all the mortgage on the marital home. According to the notes, you’ve also been paying a monthly allowance to cover all household bills, and the child’s expenses, even the cost of the nanny.’

‘Yes.’ Owen nodded.

‘Well, that’s going to have to change.’

‘But, Emi!’ Owen leaned forward on the chair.

‘Don’t worry, we’ll see that your daughter is provided for without this woman living in the lap of luxury at your expense.’ Martin scowled, shook out tension which seemed to have gathered in his over-developed shoulders, and continued, ‘First things first. We’ll send out a letter today setting out your requirements – weekly meetings at a place to be agreed but of your choosing and weekend stopovers to be settled at a future date.’

‘I’ve got to go abroad on an assignment at the end of next week.’

‘Hmm, well, I can’t do much about that. It means you’re going to lose out unless we can arrange extra meetings before and after your trip.’

‘I’d be up for that.’

‘We’ll set it out in the letter.’

‘You won’t mention the judicial hearing?’

‘Not yet.’

‘Do I need to do anything? Prepare for the judge?’

‘No, that’s my job.’ Fraser smiled. ‘You just arrange better accommodation. Then we can try to get you weekends with your daughter.’

‘Thank you.’

Martin stood up, a signal he was ending the meeting.

Owen got to the door before asking why Martin had needed to ask about things already in the notes.

‘To know you, Owen. I had to read you, not the things that were written about you.’

‘I see.’ Owen nodded. Then, his eyes catching the family photograph, he added. ‘You have a lovely family.’

‘I did.’ Martin frowned. ‘They were killed last year on the M4.’

‘I’m sorry.’

Martin shook his head. ‘It’s all right, Owen. Now we both understand each other’s pain.’

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