where all the money’s gone – the wine tours, the trips away.’
‘That was all fake?’
He shook his head. ‘No. Some of them were genuine. Maddie, you have to believe me.’ He narrowed his eyes.
She knew she should be absolutely furious with him about how he’d treated her, but a part of her was helicoptering above the whole scene as if it wasn’t really her life.
‘How did it come to this, Tim?’ she whispered.
He shrugged. ‘I couldn’t help it, Maddie.’
‘You need help, Tim, proper help. Beyond what I can say to you.’ She put her hand on his bony shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
She listened as he went on to explain the extent of it; lawyers were involved. She heard the words ‘precious little left’. She cast her eye over her newly painted walls, the cushions on the sofa, her fresh new surroundings, and knew this was the beginning of the end of her marriage. Nothing would fix the deception between them.
‘So why are you here?’
‘Olive didn’t leave me a thing, Maddie, not a penny. So—’
She stared at him, at his face, nose ruddy from crying. ‘I thought you’d come to see me, to explain, but no, you need money? Is that why you’re here? You’ve cheated on me, bled our savings dry and now you want money from me?’ Bile was rising up and she was having trouble controlling the anger.
‘I did come to explain, Maddie—’ He stopped. ‘But what I was thinking, if we sell Maris Cottage—’
‘We? Tim this place is mine now. Something for me. And when I do sell it, I need the money. Be reasonable, Tim. Whatever mess you’re in, you’ve done that yourself. You need help, professional help.’ She blinked a few times, willed her shaking hands to steady and took a deep breath.
Just then Taffie bounded in and came up to Tim, snuffling at his ankles.
Tim moved his leg abruptly away. ‘Stupid dog,’ he said, slamming his cup on the table. ‘I supported you for all these years, Maddie.’
‘But you’ve been gambling, the whole time! You’ve lost everything we built. Half of it belongs to me, Tim. Can’t you see that? And it’s gone. And seeing her. You have a problem, an addiction. And, Tim—’ she folded her arms across her chest ‘—I might sound harsh, but until you sort it out, I won’t help you at all. The only thing that will happen if I give you half the money for Maris Cottage is that you will blow it on spread betting at the races, or something.’
‘I never bet on horses.’
‘That’s not the point!’ she screamed. ‘What would Ed say?’
‘Well, he’s—’
‘Don’t say it, Tim,’ she whispered.
He looked over sharply then.
‘He’s our son. We both brought up him up – you and me!’ Trembling, she added, ‘You need to go now, Tim, I need to be alone.’
34
‘Hi there!’ A woman with a mass of blonde curls, gold hoop earrings and a cherry-red smile popped her head out from under the counter.
Maddie took a step back.
‘Oh, I didn’t see you!’
‘Can I help you?’ The accent was American. The woman emerged slowly, a slim figure encased in a pair of blue denim dungarees over a green floral shirt, rolled up at the sleeves.
‘Oh hi, I’m Maddie. I’ve noticed your ad in the window for a few weeks and thought I’d pop in.’
She was in the Shore Café, the one along from her cottage. It was a freezing December day, a few days after her row with Tim, and sleety-rain had been pelting on her windows all day. She’d watched the raindrops fighting for space on the wide glass surface as she’d brooded about Tim, about Greg, about her life, until she’d finally stood up, made herself a cup of coffee, glanced at the advert again as she opened the fridge for milk and made a decision. She’d swiped her coat from the rack in the hall, promising Taffie she’d walk him later.
She’d marched out in the sleet before she’d had time to think. She needed to take control; she needed a job.
‘Yes, that’s great,’ the woman was saying. ‘We could really do with a hand. Sue, that’s the manager, she’s been a bit – how do you guys say it – poorly, and yeah, I’m kinda here on my own. It’s always fine in the summer with students needing work, but the rest of the year we can never get any help. Oh, I’m Lauren, by the way,’ she said holding out a hand with