“Then I suggest you think about this decision. I’m out of here. Tony is taking me away. I’ll see you guys soon.” Opal kissed her brother Richard on the cheek then left. Tony stayed for a few minutes.
“If you go through with this, our women will gang up and force Lily to date someone else to get over you. Wayne, I don’t know why you want this divorce, but be sure it’s what you want. Opal and Scarlet will make you regret it. Those women with Lily have become like sisters.” Tony left seconds later.
“I’m going to go as well before my wife starts planning on crushing my balls. I’m fond of all of my man-parts,” said Richard.
“Okay,” Wayne said then saw his friend out. When they were all gone he turned to the whiskey. The sooner he lost his head the better he’d feel.
Chapter Four
Lily watched her children playing on the floor in front of her while her father, George, finished his call on the phone. Blake was staying at his friend’s again. She believed he had a crush on a girl at school. Since Wayne had left, Blake barely spoke to her. It had been several days since Wayne had left. Her father was staying with her to help out. Opal phoned on a regular basis to check in with her. Scarlet stopped by as much as possible. In two weeks it would be the run up to Christmas. She knew her friends were planning on going away. Richard had decided at the last minute to take Scarlet and the kids away for Christmas. They would be leaving in a few days.
She’d be all alone.
Wayne still refused to talk to her. She knew he was working. His secretary had informed her he didn’t want to be disturbed when she’d called. He was avoiding her at every opportunity.
The tree looked pathetic to her now. She remembered singing for Wayne as they put each bauble on the branches.
“Honey, how are you?” her father asked the moment he got off the phone.
“I’m dealing. I can’t just break down and cry at any given time. I want to. It’s so hard. How did you manage it?” Her father had fallen in love with a cleaner at his office. She’d died giving birth to her. Her father had been dealing with the heartache ever since.
“Sweetheart, my heartache was different. Your mother died. There was no way for me to get over her. Wayne is still living and breathing. I can’t give you any advice but time. Time to get over him and time to heal.”
Lily stood up walking toward the kitchen. The children were safe in their areas with protective bars. She ran her fingers through her hair after she put the kettle on to boil.
“I can’t deal with this,” she said.
George came up behind her. He squeezed her shoulder offering her comfort. Tears sprang to her eyes. “You’ll deal, honey. You’ll find a way to cope.”
“I love him, dad. I always will. It doesn’t matter what he’s done for us or how we began our marriage. I know he thinks he’s doing the right thing. I don’t know how to tell him he’s not.” Lily wiped the tears away. George moved away while she made two cups of tea.
“Men can be fickle, Lily. Maybe you need to show him how you’ve changed. I don’t know. Go and date some other guy, or maybe go and sing at a club? Wayne loves you, honey. I’ve seen the love he has for you. I just wish I knew how to make this right.” George smiled taking a sip of his tea.
Twenty minutes later, Scarlet turned up with her children. George stayed with them in the sitting room while Lily talked with her friend.
“How are you and George getting on?” Scarlet asked.
“He’s helping. I sleep in the kids’ room while he takes the spare room,” Lily said. She was pleased her friend had chosen to visit.
“Why aren’t you sleeping in your bed?”
“Too many memories. Could you sleep in the same bed if Richard was planning to divorce you?”
“I guess not. Has anyone been in touch with a divorce?”
Lily shook her head. She couldn’t answer the door for fear it might be someone with divorce papers. “I don’t know what’s going on. I wish there was a way for me to grab his attention. I miss him so much.”
Scarlet sat in silence for the next few minutes. Lily drank her tea and thought about how to capture her husband.
“I’ve got a suggestion. The only problem is you’re not going to like it,” Scarlet said. She was smiling at Lily, which made her nervous.
“What suggestion?” Lily asked.
“Opal mentioned to me about John Barnes liking you.”
Lily groaned. She knew the older man cared about her. They’d met at a barbeque and were discussing some medical problems that had been in the news. Wayne had become very possessive of her.
“I got in touch with John and told him your problem with Wayne. I may have done some conspiring with Richard, and I shouldn’t know that Wayne has a business dinner tonight with clients at this Italian restaurant within the city. I also shouldn’t be telling you that I got Richard to book the table in plain sight of Wayne’s table.” Scarlet put the card of the restaurant in front of Lily. Her friend was nibbling her lip.
“Why do I feel there is more for you to tell me?”
“Well, Richard and I are taking the kids tonight for you. I also don’t know the fact you’re going on a date with John in order to find the opportunity to talk to Wayne.”
“Scarlet!”
“What?”
“That is unfair. I don’t want to blackmail Wayne or force another guy to take me on a date.”
“John is willing to take you. He wants to see you happy. Please, Lily. This may be your only chance to find out what the hell is going on in your husband’s brain.”
Lily sighed as she picked up the card. “This is my favourite restaurant. They serve great pasta and desserts.”
“I want you to be happy, Lily. I’ve got your dress in the car. I knew you’d hate this, but at least you’d get the chance to see Wayne. I know he’s dodging you. Fucking coward.”
“Scarlet!”
“It’s Christmas, and he’s ditching you even though he loves you. Every woman should have a happy ending, and if I have to be a total nut-job to make sure all of us get a perfect Christmas then that is what I’m going to do.”
“I didn’t know you were nuts about Christmas,” Lily said.
“Richards knows I go insane at this time of year. Everyone deserves a miracle and happiness. I don’t like the thought of my best friends not being happy. You and Wayne were perfect for each other. You are still perfect for each other. I’m not going to allow something stupid to come between you. It’s not acceptable.”