Betrayal
Peter raised his hand in farewell:
“Well, Rose, I’m off! Ill transfer the money to Mum, dont worry.”
The door slammed shut behind him, and Rose sank onto the stool, suddenly bursting into tears.
“Mum, whats wrong?” Her son appeared in the kitchen. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Rose was ashamed of her weakness. “Just a bad mood, thats all. Missing the boys.”
Joey and Christine were staying at their grandmothers.
“No,” Dominic insisted, his voice firm. “People dont cry like that over a bad mood, and you talk to them on the phone every day. Im not a kid anymore, Mum. I can tell when somethings wrong.”
Rose looked at her sixteen-year-old son, already taller than her, and suddenly voiced the fear she hadnt dared admit even to herself:
“I think your dads about to leave us.” She met his silent questioning gaze. “Hes been lying to me. For almost six months now…”
Dominic didnt know how to react. Hed assumed shed had a rough day at work or argued with a friend. But thishis *dad*? How could that happen? Anger flared inside him, and his mother saw it.
“Dominic, dont. These things happen between adultsyoull understand when youre older. Your dads a good man, but sometimes hearts stray.”
Even as she spoke, Rose didnt believe her own words. She wanted to scream, to smash things, yet here she was, telling her eldest son to forgive and understand his father. Still, the boy clenched his fists.
“Let him go then! Well manage without him. Why does he bother coming home at all?”
“Love, you say youre grown up, but youre acting like a child. Everyone makes mistakes, dont they? Your dad will realise this is just a passing fling. His family *is* his priority…”
“Mum,” Dominics voice cracked, suddenly sounding younger. “How could he do this? Ill never respect him the same way again.”
“Itll sort itself out, love.” Rose squeezed his hand. “Dont tell your brothers, alright?”
“You neither,” Dominic wiped his eyes. “We dont want them losing faith in their big brother.”
Rose glanced at the clock.
“Arent you late for training?”
Dominic jumped up.
“Blimey, I am!”
Alone, Roses composure crumbled. Talking to Dominic had kept her numb, but now, the betrayal hit fresh.
“How could he throw away everything we had?”
When shed first met Peter, hed been careless, surrounded by women he called “little birds.” When Rose said she wouldnt be just another bird, hed replied:
“Why another? The only one. For life.”
And shed believed him, the fool. Seventeen years, three childrenthrough thick and thinonly for *this*?
It started six months ago. Or had it been longer, unnoticed? At his cousins wedding, Peter had gone aloneRose couldnt attend. Later, scrolling through photos online, she spotted a woman glued to Peters side. Shed joked about it, but Peter brushed it off:
“Who? Oh, the brides friend. No idea why she kept hovering. Honestly, Roseare you *jealous*?” Hed grinned. “Shes not even my type!”
Shed believed him; the woman *wasnt* his usual taste. But then came the late nights, the fancy suits replacing his jeans and jumpers, the expensive cologne instead of his old aftershave. And the overtimealways overtime.
“Weve got a major project, Rose! Once its done, well have it allholidays, that coat you wanted, a scooter for Dom, maybe even a quad bike!”
Soon, Peter vanished on weekends too. “Work calls!” hed say, guilt flickering in his eyes. Rose itched to track down that woman, drag her by the hair, but she never did.
Six months of this turned her into a wreck. Around others, she held it together; alone, she crumbled. Tonight, after talking to Dominic, she resolved:
“I have to confront him. Before Dom learns to hate his father.”
But Peter beat her to it. He called, asking to meet at a restaurant.
“Rose, we need to talk. Without the kids.”
She smiled bitterly. He knew shed never make a scene in public.
At first, she considered going in her gardening clotheslet him be embarrassed. Then she changed her mind.
“Ill look my best. I want him to see what hes losing.”
The taxi driver studied her in the mirror.
“Pretty lady like you shouldnt be sad. Cheer upthingsll get better!”
His kindness lifted her spirits. Entering the restaurant, she even managed a smile. Peter had a rose waitingwhy, if he was leaving her? A funeral bouquet for their love? The thought almost made her laugh.
They made small talk over dinner. Inside, Rose braced for the blow. Finally, she snapped.
“Peter, you said we needed to talk.”
He nodded.
“Right. To cut to the chase…” He hesitated. “I was thinking… Would you mind if we *dont* splurge on holidays or that coat?”
Her tension coiled tighteruntil he continued.
“We got double pay today. Doms nearly grownwhat if we put this towards a *flat* for him? Ive been researching, and if we invest now, itll be ready by his eighteenth.”
“Understood,” Rose said calmlythen froze. “*What?* A flat?!”
“Werent you listening? Honestly, Rose, youve been so distracted lately. Whats going on?”
Peter shouted later. Hed kept quiet in the restaurant, but outside, he let loose.
“Have you lost your mind? An *affair*? I explained everythingthe project, the overtime! Ive been bragging about my understanding wife, and this is how you repay me?”
They walked home, Rose listening to his rant with a growing smile. His scolding sounded like music now. At the doorstep, Peter finally calmed.
“Did I ever *once* say you werent my one and only?”
—
Dominics day had been rotten. His mums confession threw him offhed been late to training, got chewed out by the coach, then argued with a mate over nothing. Hed wandered the streets, itching for a fight to unleash his anger. But no thugs obliged.
Returning home, he spotted his parents kissing on the doorstep. His mums coat was unmistakable. His heart *boiled*. After accusing Dad of betrayal, she? Fists clenched, he stormed forward.
“Oi, son,” Peter grinned, slightly sheepish. “We were just…”
…Well, alls well that ends well, eh?
