An Italian Dream

Paul thumped upstairs. The bedroom door banged against the wall. He grunted.

Why he thought it was a good idea to get plastered on a Sunday evening, she had no idea. In the bathroom mirror, she caught him grinning at her from the open en suite door. She dropped the dirty cotton wool pad into the bin.

He staggered towards her and dipped his hands beneath her pyjama top as he nuzzled her neck. ‘You smell lush.’

‘I’ve been pampered all weekend, that’s why.’

‘Oh shit, yeah. Nearly forgot.’ He chuckled.

Not nearly forgot, Fern thought, you did forget. His drink-addled brain stopped him from walking straight, let alone remembering where she’d been for the last thirty-six hours.

‘You had fun?’ He worked his hands upwards, finding her bare breasts and giving them a squeeze.

She frowned at him through the mirror. He grinned back.

‘Yeah,’ she said. His hands were finally caressing instead of squeezing. ‘It was a lot of fun and relaxing, just what I needed. Stella too.’

‘Uh-huh.’

She knew he wasn’t really listening.

‘Come to bed,’ he said, removing his hands.

‘I will in a minute.’

He disappeared into the bedroom. She heard him hopping about, trying to take off his jeans. She knew there’d be a pile of dirty clothes left next to the bed for her to tidy up in the morning.

Fern squeezed the toothpaste onto her toothbrush and started cleaning her teeth. It was hard keeping a secret from her husband. Not that he was in any fit state to listen to her tonight. The Lottery win was huge news, particularly as he’d known Stella for as long as he’d known Fern. They’d all grown up together; rather too quickly in Paul and Fern’s case. And tonight it sounded as though he’d been out with Gary, Stella’s first ex-husband. He knew both of her ex-husbands: Chloe’s dad Gary and Jacob’s dad Rhod. Stella had been clear with Fern that she didn’t want either of them to know about her Lottery win yet, so it would be best for Paul not to know either. There was no way he’d be able to keep that sort of news to himself. She would respect her friend’s wishes.

‘Stella’s invited me and the girls on holiday with her, you too if you can make it for the last few days,’ Fern called from the en suite. She spat into the sink, rinsed her toothbrush and put it away. ‘An early fortieth celebration. Is that okay with you? Her treat from the bonus she got at work…’ Her voice trailed off as she emerged from the bathroom to find Paul half propped up in bed with his eyes closed and his mouth gaping open, a fluttering snore telling her he was well and truly asleep.

Fern sighed and slipped into bed next to him. He’d managed to take his T-shirt off but was just in his boxer shorts. She wasn’t sure if she was upset or relieved that he was asleep and sex was no longer a possibility. The conversation about the holiday to Capri would also have to wait.

She turned away from him and snuggled beneath the covers, curling her hands around her pillow. It was at night, in the dark quietness of their family home, that her mind wandered and discontentment crept up on her, filling her head with worry and anxiety. Recently, there had been many times when she’d cried herself to sleep and she had no idea why, but tonight her head was filled with thoughts of the holiday in May and the beautiful island of Capri…