30

“Mom, I know this is some kind of, you know, mid-life crisis. But dating such a young guy isn’t going to fix your broken heart. Dad may have left, but he’ll come back. You just need to be patient. You guys belong together.”

I sigh and continue frosting the cookies, refusing to look up at her.

“Katie, your father and I are going to divorce. People grow apart, love, and we did. I’m very happy with Chris.”

“Mom, please, be realistic,” she lowers her voice to a whisper, “I mean, look at him. He’s not going to stick around. He just wants your money.”

I place the frosting knife carefully down on the bench and lean back to give her my ‘mom eye’ — the look I’d always given when any of my kids had overstepped the mark, and a salient warning that my temper was about to be unleashed.

“Katie, I don’t interfere in your marriage, I’d appreciate it if you kept your opinions to yourself about my relationship.”

“Is that what you call it?” She snipes. “I’m trying to protect you, Mom.”

“I don’t need your protection,” I snap. “I’m doing just fine. Chris doesn’t want my money. He wants me, which is a hell of a lot more than what your father wants. And stop calling Chris a gold-digger, I heard the twins call him that this morning and Tess keeps asking him for treasure. Keep your thoughts to yourself.”

“Dad has just made a little mistake…” she starts.

“He cheated on me with his secretary for twelve months, Katie,” I snarl. “That’s not a little mistake; that’s a diabolical betrayal.”

“Mom!” She gasps. “That isn’t true. Dad would never…”

“Dad did! I didn’t want to have to tell you this, but you keep pressing. Your father admitted everything. Now enough! I don’t want to hear any more of your half-assed counselling. You’re here to enjoy Christmas and that’s what we’re going to try and do, for the littlies’ sake, at least.”

Sighing she walks around to where I stand, tears pricking, and puts her arms around me.

“I’m so sorry, Mom.”

“I’m sorry, too,” I sigh. “I should have told you what was going on earlier, but I didn’t want to spoil your holidays. And I didn’t want to make your father look like a bastard. Now you’ve heard everything just a few days out from Christmas.”

“I know,” she murmurs as she hugs me, “but it’ll all work out, Mom. I promise you. Marriage has its ups and downs. You told me that on my wedding day, remember. Everything will be fine.”

‘Ups and downs? That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. He was doing the ups and downs with his fucking secretary! Everything will never be fine again.’

“Sure,” I sigh, biting my lip.

There’s obviously no point arguing. The information is still too fresh for her to process and accept. I mean Christ, it took me months to accept that my marriage was over. She’d literally known for five minutes.

As I release her, Chris walks into the kitchen followed by the twins.

Katie, her expression hard, picks up the plate of newly decorated cookies and brushes past him, ushering the kids out with a wave of her hand and ignoring their disappointed pleas to follow the ‘miner.’

Chris waits until they’re gone before gathering me into his arms.

“Everything OK?” He asks gently, his eyes on mine.

“Yeah,” I sigh. “Kids.”

“Hideous,” he nods.

We both burst out laughing.