The Marriage Mender by Linda Green Page B

time Chris and I had been out for a meal. It was probably my fortieth. Too long, really. Like dating someone every eight months, except sillier than that, because the person in question happened to be my husband. I, of all people, ought to have known not tolet that happen. But somehow it had. It was time to put a stop to it.
    I took the lipliner and drew a careful outline before filling in with lipstick. It was my colour. Something called ‘damson rose’. It had taken me until I was forty to find it, but sometimes the important things in life did take time.
    I caught sight of the photo on the dressing table. The black and white one of me cradling a newborn Matilda in my arms, my cheeks red and my eyes moist with tears. I hadn’t realised until that moment how similar it was to the one of Lydia with Josh which he’d shown me. It wasn’t surprising of course. The same photographer had taken it. The only difference was that mine hadn’t been put away in a box, out of sight and out of mind.
    ‘Well, you scrubbed up pretty well.’
    I gave a start as I heard Chris’s voice behind me. ‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’ I smiled.
    ‘I only came in to change my shirt. I suppose you want me to make more of an effort now.’
    ‘Well, maybe just this once. It’s not often we get the chance, is it?’
    ‘Where are we going?’
    ‘Somewhere nice.’
    ‘It wouldn’t be first date territory, would it?’ he asked.
    ‘Might be,’ I said, trying to hide my disappointment that he’d guessed.
    ‘Decent shirt and trousers, then,’ he said. ‘But I draw the line at a tie.’ He squeezed past me to get to the wardrobe.‘Wow, you smell good too.’ He stooped to kiss me on the neck.
    And I was momentarily transported back to a time when this was happening for the first time. And I was breathing him in, unable to believe that someone like him was doing this with someone like me.
    ‘If I kiss you properly, I’m going to get lipstick all over me, aren’t I?’ asked Chris.
    I nodded.
    ‘Oh well, I guess it’ll just have to wait for later.’
    I heard voices downstairs through the open doorway. A male voice particularly. One which shouldn’t have been there.
    ‘That’s Josh,’ I said.
    We both hurried downstairs. He was standing in the hall looking forlorn. Barbara was next to him, using her best soothing tones.
    ‘Hey, what’s happened?’ I asked.
    ‘Mum didn’t show,’ he said, his voice an uncertain mixture of anger and defensiveness.
    ‘Have you tried ringing her?’ I asked.
    ‘Yeah. Just goes to her voicemail. I’ve left a message and I’ve texted her but she hasn’t got back.’
    ‘That’s bang out of order,’ said Chris from behind me. ‘I’m not having her mess you around like this.’
    I realised Matilda was standing in the doorway, and whispered to Barbara to take her back into the lounge and put a DVD on. Chris waited until she’d shut the door behind her.
    ‘Maybe something came up,’ said Josh.
    ‘Yeah. Something’s come up all right.’
    ‘Chris,’ I said.
    ‘Well, it’s pretty damn obvious.’
    ‘Why don’t you call Tom?’ I said to Josh. ‘See if he’s still around.’
    ‘I already have. He’s gone round to his cousin’s.’
    ‘Well, we can stay in, if you like,’ I offered.
    ‘No, there’s no need. You go.’
    ‘Are you sure?’ I asked.
    ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Thanks,’ I said, rubbing his shoulder.
    Though I suspected the evening had been ruined already.
    * * *
    Chris didn’t speak until we were in the car. Until I’d pulled out of the lane and was heading down the hill.
    ‘You know what’s happened, don’t you?’ he said. ‘She was blown out by that guy she’s seeing. Offered the ticket to Josh and told her boyfriend she was going with someone else to try to get back at him. Then when he’s come running back, she’s ditched Josh. She’s just using him.’
    ‘If I didn’t know you better –’ I began.
    ‘What?’ he broke in.
    ‘It doesn’t