Part 26 (1/2)

Martin tidied himself, brushed his hair into place, and made his way downstairs, with Paula just behind him.

At the door, she kissed him cheerio and made sure there was no sign of lipstick on him. 'Go on ... you look decent enough.'

Suddenly he turned back. 'Where are the divorce papers?'

'Why?'

'Because I need to watch you sign them, and then I know it's done.'

'So you think I'm not capable of signing the papers all by myself, do you?'

'I never said that, but you didn't sign them last night, did you? And you promised you would.' He grew irritated. 'Get them now and sign them in front of me.'

'I thought I asked you not to tell me what to do?' Paula argued.

'That was before. This is different. Please, Paula, get the papers, will you?'

When Paula hesitated, he asked her outright, 'Do you love me?'

'You know I do!'

'And you want to be rid of your big oaf of a husband is that the truth or not?'

'Yes, it's our part of the plan. You know that!'

'Then, please, sign the papers in front of me.'

'OK. If you don't trust me, I suppose I'll have to.'

'It's not that I don't trust you, I just don't trust your memory. So, go on, do it now, then we can both relax.'

Realising he would not leave until she signed them, Paula went to the hallway drawer, where she drew out the papers and signed them quickly. 'There!' She showed him the signature. 'Happy now, are you?'

'And you will take them to the solicitor first thing, won't you?'

'I've said, haven't I?'

'Don't forget!'

'I won't. I promise, I'll put them into my handbag right now ... look!' She collected her handbag from the lounge and placed the papers inside. 'I have to go into town first thing, and I need to take my handbag with me, so I can't possibly forget, so stop your fretting!'

She kissed him goodbye, and he climbed into the van and drove off, waving out the window as he went.

Ten minutes later, as he turned into his own street, he was not altogether surprised to see Anne, who was walking towards his house, with his grandson in the pushchair.

As he neared the house, Anne caught sight of him, and started to hurry. Breathless, she drew up at the door, just as her father pulled up. 'Hiya, Dad!' When Martin got out of the car, she gave him a big hug. Martin was pleased to see her too, and he was also thankful that he had not lingered too long at Paula's, because Anne might well have gone there looking for him.

'You're late tonight, aren't you, Dad?' Anne chatted while Martin unlocked the front door.

'I had a ton of work on today,' he said. 'It was one of those plumbing jobs that you dare not leave unfinished ... d.a.m.ned nuisance.'

Anne took the baby out of the pushchair. 'I've been round here once, but there was no sign of you. I thought you might be round Paula's. I know sometimes you pop in for a few minutes ... especially now Mum's away.'

'I don't go round that often.' Her comment put him on his guard. 'I'm just a bit concerned about her, what with all that nasty business going on with the divorce. That great bruiser of a husband seems to be making it as difficult as he can for her!'

'Hmm! I never did like him. He always was a bit of a brute.'

'That's right. So, as your mother isn't here to listen to her sister's troubles, I do try to find a spare minute to slip round ... just so she doesn't feel abandoned ... if you know what I mean?'

As he turned the door key and ushered Anne and the baby inside, he had a disturbing thought. 'Does your mother ask about Paula?'

'Sort of, yes.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'When she rang the last time, I told her what you said ... that Paula's ex is ha.s.sling her to speed up the divorce.'

'And what did your mum say to that?'

Anne shrugged. 'Not much really. She didn't make any comment. I expect, with her still grieving for Nan and Granddad, she's trying to keep her mind clear of Paula's problems, and in a way I don't blame her. Mum is always thinking of other people, and it's high time she started to think of herself. Mind you, she seems to be enjoying her stay with Kathleen's aunt.'

'Really?' Martin could not relate Lucy with the word 'enjoying'. 'And is that what she actually said that she was ”enjoying” herself?'

'That's what she said, and it was lovely to hear her so calm and content. I had been really worried about her. She was so down the weeks before she left, I really thought she might have a breakdown.'

'You never said anything to me.' He was made to wonder if that was after Lucy had caught him and Paula in her bedroom. And his greatest fear was that she would tell the children.

'I expect deep down, as well as grieving for her parents, she must be worried about Paula. I mean, she is her sister, after all, and you know what Mum's like about family.'

'Yes, I know what she's like, but as you say, she's got to put herself first now and then, and not be too involved in other people's problems.' He was thinking that once Paula was divorced, and Lucy would have to deal with her own marriage break-up, she would need to toughen up in order to get through it all.

Anne was still thinking of Paula, and she now had a suggestion. 'D'you think Paula might like to come and stay with me for a while, just until Mum gets back?'

Martin was shocked. 'No, I don't think that's such a good idea. It's a very kind thought, though, but when I popped in just now, she was having one h.e.l.l of a battle with her husband on the telephone ... all to do with divorce papers and all the other stuff that goes with a divorce. And besides, you've got enough on your plate, with keeping an eye on my grandson, and taking care of your house and husband. You've said before now that you never seem to have enough hours in the day, and the little one is getting some new teeth coming through, and you've not had a good night in ages.'

'Yes, that's true enough. And then there's Samuel, worrying about Mum. I told him she was absolutely fine, and that she would likely be home at any minute. First, though, she needed to get her head straight, what with all that's happened lately.'

'And what did he say?'

'He wanted a number where he could call her, and I explained that she was staying with her friend's aunt, who is quite old, and we were not to intrude on the old dear. I told him that Mum was ringing me regularly, to keep us up with everything.'

'And what did he say to that?'

'He said that was good enough; as long as she was all right, that was all he needed to know.'

'You're a good girl, Anne. A good daughter, and a good sister to our Samuel.'