‘I’ll get going then. Before this one causes any more damage.’ He started to back away, towing the dog with him. He gave a wave before turning and upping his pace.
‘Come on you.’ George pressed gently on Frankie’s shoulders, so she sank back down onto the bench. ‘Finish your cake. Then, when you feel up to it, we’ll get you home, slowly but surely.’ She popped her head out of the hut, where Alexander and Jake were disappearing from view. ‘That dog is a menace, but his master is pretty cute.’
Frankie covered her mouth as laughter burst from her lips. ‘I suppose he is.’ If you were into tall, dashingly handsome men with sparkling blue eyes and mischievous grins.
George sighed. ‘If I were ten years younger…’
Frankie winked at her. ‘Age is just a number.’
‘That’s true. Do you think I should go after him?’ George laughed before shaking her head. ‘No, I think our dog-walker would be more interested in a pretty, young thing like you.’
‘Nah.’ Frankie wrinkled her nose. ‘Not interested. Men are strictly off the menu.’
‘Tell me about it,’ Katie said. ‘They’re more trouble than they’re worth sometimes.’ She gave a half-smile. ‘If I sound bitter, it’s because I am. My husband cheated on me, left me for another woman, and yet I feel guilty that our family is splintered.’
‘Try having a baby on your own, without a father in the picture at all,’ George said. ‘I’ve had loads of judgemental comments from people who should learn to mind their own business.’
Katie settled herself on the bench. ‘I think parenting is hard, whatever the situation.’
‘It’s doubly hard when you have twins,’ Frankie said. She nodded as Katie widened her eyes at her. ‘Two-year-old twins. They’re like mini tornadoes. I can’t remember the last time my house wasn’t a mess.’
‘My whole life is a mess.’ Katie sighed. ‘My husband is divorcing me, so he can marry the woman he cheated on me with and knocked up.’
Frankie’s mouth dropped open. ‘You’re kidding!’
Katie shook her head and gave a wry smile. ‘Afraid not.’
‘You’re better off without him,’ George said. ‘Why would you want to be shackled to a man who doesn’t even respect you, or your marriage, or your family?’
Katie gave a slow nod. ‘I know you’re right, but…’ She shrugged. ‘It’s scary. I’ve never been on my own before. We were only kids when we got together. It’s always been me and Rob, working together, you know?’
George nodded and gave Katie’s shoulder a squeeze. ‘I get it, honestly I do. I was terrified at the prospect of raising a baby by myself, but I also knew it was something I wanted so badly I couldn’t not do it. I can’t say it’s been plain-sailing, but parenting never is.’
‘We’re all sort of in the same boat, aren’t we?’ Frankie looked from George to Katie. ‘Single mums. It’s kind of nice to know I’m not alone with my struggles. I don’t really have any mum friends – I only moved here a year ago and I’ve been so caught up with work, I haven’t had the chance to socialise.’
Katie snorted. ‘I’ve forgotten what socialising is. All my friends and workmates were Rob’s friends and workmates too, and I’ve been too paranoid about whether they knew about the affair to keep up with any of them.’
‘That sucks.’ Frankie flashed her a sympathetic look. ‘I know what it’s like to lose friends en masse. When Bradley – the twins’ dad – died, people started to avoid me. It wasn’t a malicious thing – I just think they were struggling with what to say to me or afraid they’d say the wrong thing.’
‘Your husband died?’ George’s eyebrows pulled down and her hand lay gently on Frankie’s arm. ‘That’s terrible. I’m so sorry.’
‘We weren’t married.’ Frankie laughed without humour. ‘Just one of the many things we never got round to. But yes, it was terrible. I miss him.’
‘Of course you do.’ Katie offered a small smile. ‘But he’d be proud of you. You’re so strong.’
Frankie shook her head, but Katie’s words meant a lot. ‘Not strong enough to withhold an ambush from that shaggy beast, clearly.’
‘I don’t think any of us could have withstood that beast, especially whilst holding a tantalising hot sandwich.’ George looked at her watch, her eyes widening at the time before she leapt to her feet. ‘I’m really sorry, but I have to get going soon. I need to pick my son up from school.’
Frankie stood too, wincing as her not-quite-restored knee jarred. ‘I really have to get going too. I’m supposed to be working.’ She’d fall even further behind if she didn’t get a shift on.
‘I’ll give you a lift,’ Katie said. ‘My car isn’t far away and I need to find a shop selling Chocolate Oranges anyway. Do you think you could make it up to the promenade?’
With Katie and George’s help and taking it slowly, Frankie made it to the top of the stone steps leading up to the promenade.
‘We should do this again,’ George said as Frankie rested against the iron railing running along the seafront. ‘Not the injury, obviously. But we should get together for a natter, when we’ve got a bit more time. Why don’t we meet again tomorrow?’
‘It would have to be at lunchtime.’ Frankie’s stomach growled, despite the double helping of cake. ‘I’m snowed under with work after the Christmas break.’
‘Sounds perfect.’ George clapped her hands together. ‘We can meet at the beach hut, in case it rains again.’
She sounded so excited at the prospect that Frankie couldn’t help smiling. ‘Okay. I’ll be here.’
Katie nodded before she started to move towards the kerb, car keys in hand while the other hand was held aloft, silently instructing Frankie to remain where she was for the moment. ‘Me too. Sounds fun.’ She turned to wink at George. ‘Especially if you bring more cake.’
George clapped her hands together again, her eyes wide and shining. ‘I can do better than that – why don’t I bring a picnic since we’re meeting at lunchtime?’
Katie waved her ‘wait there for a moment, Frankie’ hand vigorously. ‘No, no, I was kidding about the cake. I wouldn’t really put you to that much trouble.’
‘It’s no trouble at all.’ Frankie could tell by the firm nod of George’s head that they would be treated to a picnic the next day whether they agreed to the plan or not. ‘I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Bring your appetites!’
Katie
Katie managed to find a replacement Chocolate Orange at a mini market around the corner from Frankie’s house (and it was reduced to half price – hurrah!), switch it with Elliot’s depleted one, and remove the evidence that there had ever been another Chocolate Orange in the house at all (and was now feeling sickly. Not good) with time to spare. She found herself sitting on the sofa in the kitchen, the acknowledgement of service in hand, not sure whether it was the overindulgence or the prospect of signing away her marriage that was making her feel queasy.
She still couldn’t quite believe it had come to this. All those years wasted. All those happy memories obliterated by that one ugly word. Divorce. She’d failed – as a wife and a mother – but Rob had failed too. Failed more, because whatever cracks had appeared in their marriage – to him, at least – he’d chosen to have an affair rather than addressing them. If Rob