The House Spider

by Avis Hickman-Gibb

Gazing out at the garden, watching the rain pour down was not getting her any further on. Sighing, she turned to finish the packing. This time tomorrow, she and the children would be gone. This was her really, truly last night in the home she'd shared with Jeremy. Sadness closed in and stung her eyes.

Funny how things turn out. When I came here as a bride, I imagined the ups and down - having kids, watching them grow; having little arguments, big joys; good times, bad times; the normal give and take of married life.

I'd planned to grow old with my new husband in this very house, the first night we'd moved in. No furniture, no water, the heating still off, only one lamp for the whole house. We'd cuddled up in his old sleeping bag, in front of a make-do fire of an old packing case and yellowing newspapers, and eaten fish and chips from their wrapper whilst drinking cheap red wine that was almost vinegar.

And still the rain dripped off the eaves and into the sodden flowerbed. Her last night in this house, and she and the girls were rattling around, packing up the final bits.

Jeremy is not here - the bastard. No, he's miles away with that tart from his office.

Jenny.

Jenny and Jeremy.

Well, good luck and good riddance.

Who needs you anyway?

When it became clear - when I knew he'd strayed, found someone else – Christ, I was so so angry. Incandescent. Hurt pride and thirst for vengeance, overwhelmed me. It wasn't how my life was supposed to turn out. So many nights of wailing at the darkness.

It took me long hours grafting to make that first happy ending - making do, fitting my desires to complement his, submerging my opinion to match his views - on everything. Isn't that what you are supposed to do? From the first time I set eyes on Jeremy, until walking down that aisle - had been 3 years of hard slog. Then ten years later – Jenny happened.

Bitch.

But, now...there's a new life set out for me. Me and the girls. Dear, dear Christopher. He's been sweet on me for years – almost as long as I've known that bastard Jeremy. It took very little encouragement – and I've always thought of him as my second string, something to fall back on. It's a bonus that he's Jeremy's brother.

She smiled into the now night-darkened window and patted her swollen tummy contentedly.

It's only fair that I give Christopher a child – that's my part of the bargain. After all, as he says, he is now my shelter from life's harsh winds - and I always planned to have three children.

The divorce from Jeremy was just a little hiccough, really. And from tomorrow, life will carry on just as I'd planned.

No real difference - just a little interruption.