Stephanie stood holding her son, Mark, tightly but gently, giving as much warmth from her own body as it would yield. She thought a sudden lift out of his cot and a mad dash out of the front door would wake him. But, probably due to him missing his usual nap he was still dreaming peacefully in her arms.
The crispness of a forthcoming frost could be felt in the night air. His Babygro was obviously keeping out the cold because Mark had a good set of lungs on him, and would in no certain terms let her know if he was. She wrapped the blanket around him a little tighter so that it covered his outfit. In between the arguments they'd found time to go shopping for baby clothes and the Babygro made her think of Peter. Someone, at this moment, she couldn't think of as her husband any more.
Why the hell did I storm out like that? Why didn't I just say what I had to say and go to bed? If I'd put the lock on the bedroom door he would've had to sleep downstairs and that would have annoyed him. He never got a good night's sleep down there. Trying to fit his muscular six foot body onto their two seater settee was a real nuisance.
Again she chastised herself. Thinking of his body in that way only made her anger towards him ease, and she wanted to stay angry, very angry.
The added complication of the ever decreasing temperature getting under her dressing gown, deep into her bones, was also gradually wearing the anger down.
Where am I supposed to go now? She thought.
She was in the village square. On a small green in the centre which was surrounded by tall, ornamental railings. She was next to a big oak tree which was steadfast at one side of the green, like a guardian over the whole village.
Who'll be up at this time of night?
"Huh!" thinking aloud.
It's nearer morning than night.
The small bundle in her arms began to fidget.
"Ssshhh. There, there." she whispered, rocking him gently. The last thing she wanted was for him to wake up.
A yawn allowed the dummy in his mouth to drop out, but Stephanie soon replaced it and he continued to sleep.
The coldness was making it difficult to concentrate on what she should do. She could only manage to think positively for a few moments before a feeling, like an ice cube, went down her back.
Her anger was now closer to regret. In reality there was nobody she could just call upon and ask for a place to stay for the night. There was nobody in the village she could call that close a friend.
Shephanie hadn't noticed the sound of a car's engine. It was the bright lights that made her suddenly hide behind the tree. So forcefully did she push against it, the ripples of the bark could be felt through her gown.
That must be Peter trying to find me, was her first thought. Should I let him, was her second.
The car encircled the green and headed back in the direction it had appeared from. She could see from the shape of the car that it wasn't his and began to get angry again.
Why hasn't he been out looking? He can't care very much about what's happening. For all he knows we could have been run over. Or attacked!
Whilst thinking, another car went speeding past. But she didn't get a chance to see what shape it was.
I'll go back and get the truth out of him. Then when he admits to it I'll throw him out. See how he likes the cold. She thought positively.
How could he? How could he risk our marriage for an office girl?
Her thoughts went back to when she'd answered the phone earlier....
"Hello? Cambledown 1034"
"Hello is Peter there?" came the reply.
"Yes, just a moment." She put the phone down on the table and headed back to the kitchen.
"Peter! Call for you."
Peter had acknowledged her and gone to the phone.
She heard him say hello and then it had gone quiet. Curiosity, and the fact that it was a female caller, made her lean towards the door to hear better.
"How dare you ring me here!" she heard him whisper loudly.
"How many times do I have to tell you, no!" and he banged the phone down.
She couldn't believe what she'd heard.
Had I heard right?
She thought so.
The rest was a bit of a blur. She remembered coming out of the kitchen with night caps for them both. The next thing Peter had brandy dripping from his chin and she was holding two empty glasses.
"Who was that? Come on! Who was it?" She made a gesture to throw the glasses at him.
"Nobody! Just some stupid girl at the office. She keeps pestering me and she won't take no for an answer." His hands up in front of him.
"You must take me for a fool" What's going on? Come on!"
She threw the glasses. Peter moved out the way of one but the other caught him on the forehead, bringing up a small lump instantly.
"Hey! Wait a minute." Rubbing his bump. "I've told you, nothing's going on. Why should I want anyone else?"
"Liar!" She'd pushed by him and gone upstairs.
He'd shouted after her to listen, but she hadn't responded.
Stephanie remembered getting Mark from his cot. On hearing Peter running a tap in the kitchen she'd gone out the front door as fast as she could. She'd kept at a fast walk through the footpaths until coming to the green. And that was... She looked at her watch.
Thirty minutes ago! Is that all?
The cold was getting unbearable now and the baby was fidgeting more often, so she started to walk back towards home.
Who was it that wanted him so badly that they had to ring him at home? And why did he deny it when I caught him red handed?
She thought of the bad time they were going through lately. What with his job being under threat and me being so tired all the time with Mark, it's bound to be difficult sometimes.
She was beginning to regret not having given him the chance to explain. Maybe he was telling the truth. It had been a long day and she could have taken the call the wrong way? I'll try and listen to him when I get home. That's if he's talking to me after acting so silly.
Stephanie approached the house.
The car's gone? He could be looking for us after all.
She went around to the back of the house to get the spare key from the shed. She smiled when she recalled the time they'd forgot the key after going out for dinner. Peter had had to climb on to the garage roof and clamber through an open window in his best suit. Ever since then a spare key was left under a plant pot in the shed.
She was quite calm walking into the kitchen and went straight to the kettle to make a coffee.
He shouldn't be long, she thought. I may as well wait up.
Mark was waking up in her arms, so she took a bottle of his milk from the fridge and put it in a jug ready for warming up. After boiling the water she filled the jug and her cup. She struggled opening the coffee jar, having to do it one handed.
Thanks God I have it black. She thought to herself as she sat down, still shivering, while waiting for Mark's milk to warm up.
Where is he? He must be having a look around every street in the village.
I suppose I did condemn him before he'd had a chance to put things right.
How could I think of him going with another woman? Arguments or not I'm sure he loves me, and he must know I love him.
She checked the milk and as Mark saw the bottle he pushed his dummy out in readiness. Stephanie smiled.
"You little piggy. Let's get you back in your cot first, then you can have it."
She headed upstairs towards the nursery. Mark was moaning.
"Two seconds baby. Then you can have a nice warm drink before bye-byes."
She took the blanket off him, put him in his cot and gave him his bottle. After only a couple of ounces he was fast asleep again.
Stephanie hadn't stopped smiling from downstairs. He was so handsome and, to her, seemed to be growing up so quickly.
"You're going to be just like your dad." She whispered. "Having all the girls chasing after you."
Stephanie's smile widened. Fond memories of her relationship with Peter filled her thoughts.
I'll make it up to him when he gets back.
That thought in her head she fetched her coffee from the kitchen and returned to their bed.
She yawned.
He'd better be quick, I'm shattered.
Two minutes later she was asleep. Not knowing that the envelope she had put her coffee cup on, on the bedside cabinet, meant she would wake in the morning.
Still waiting.