Chapter 4

Walking back home from the school drop off my head is whirling. Why would those words come into my head? ‘I’m going to be yours one day!’

The whole walk back I can’t stop thinking about my mystery man. He has the kindest face, he’s tall, handsome and I can imagine being wrapped up in his strong arms. I have never had such irrational thoughts about a complete stranger before, what is wrong with me? Anyway, I’m sure he’s taken, he must have a child that goes to the school, maybe in Rosie’s class as I’ve never seen him before.

I pop in to see Liana. Harry and Luna play happily together while Liana laughs at me for crushing on some random guy I saw for about two seconds.

“Seriously Liana, it’s completely irrational for me to be thinking about him this much but I can’t get him out of my head!”

“You’ve been single for nearly two years, maybe it’s your bodies way of letting you know you need to go get some” Liana says with a wink and a cheeky smile on her face.

“ha-ha, I don’t think my body even knows what sex is anymore”

“even more reason for you to go get some then”

We both sit there giggling like two giddy schoolgirls. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have Liana in my corner, thankfully, I’ll never have to. We spend the next couple of hours planning Rosie’s fifth birthday party, she loves Cinderella and I’ve seen a company that send out your favourite princess, they sing songs and paint the children’s faces. Rosie would absolutely love this, and her birthday isn’t until after the half term, so we have plenty of time to book them.

*

Heading back to the school, Harry is jumping in every muddy puddle he can possibly find, he starts preschool tomorrow and has been so excited to be a big boy. It will be strange not having any little one’s at home with me during the day, but it means I can re-focus on my cake company. I’ve run my own business for 6 years now (Alice’s little cake company) but when I had children, I slowed down to focus on them, it will be nice to pick things back up again.

As we walk through the school gate the same bitchy mums are looking over and staring at me. I’ve had enough, this has been going on for too long, what is their problem? Nerves fill my stomach, but I take a deep breath and walk over to them,

“Hi ladies, is everything ok?”

If looks could kill, that’s exactly what would have happened. Not a single word from any of them, just shocked expressions,

“Erm, hello?”

Still nothing,

“Ok then” I walk away, feeling even more confused than before. With my head down and holding Harry’s hand I start to walk towards the reception class when I walk straight into the back of someone,

“I’m so sorry” I look up to apologise again to the unsuspecting person I’ve just waltzed into and I’m looking into the dreamiest blue eyes I have ever seen, oh my God, it’s him, it’s my mystery man!

“No worries” he says with the sweetest smile “are you ok?”

“Yep, all good” I manage to choke up and try to remind myself to breathe,

“I’m Daniel, nice to meet you”

“Alice” I say shyly,

Daniel holds out his hand for me to shake, all of a sudden, I feel my palms sweating, ew, why now? I go to shake his hand, but the bell rings and I pull back,

“I’d better be off” I give him a quick smile and rush off to Rosies class.

*

Walking home Rosie is chatting away about her new best friend Izzy and all the fun things she got to do, she thinks her new teacher Miss Cole looks like Taylor Swift, so naturally she’s a huge fan of her already. I’m so happy she had a great first day. In my head I keep running over my tiny conversation with Daniel, if you can even call it that, I feel like a teenager again.

My sister Shelly came over to catch up and see the children. Shelly is thirteen years older than me and has always been like a second mum to me. We look very similar except Shelly has short blonde hair and mine is now long and my natural mousey brown colour. I’ve always looked up to both my sister’s, I saw them marry and have children when I was still very young, I always wanted to be just like them. I told her about the odd lack of response I got from the group of mums in Joshuas class. Shelly looked concerned, like she wanted to tell me something but wasn’t sure if she should,

“What is it?” I ask, Shelly pulls out her phone,

“I wasn’t sure if I should show you or not, especially as it’s been so long but you have a right to know what people are saying. I went on Dylans F******k account to delete him as a friend, and I saw loads of messages from women that I’m guessing are the ones you’re talking about. I screenshot it before I deleted him” Shelly passes me her phone and I scroll through the pictures:

Dylan: I can’t believe my wife cheated on me and then kicked me out, I don’t know what I did wrong and I can’t even see my children…..

Nicky: omg what a fucking bitch!

Tracy: we’re here for you, you’re such a nice guy I can’t believe she’s done this to you!

Emily: Fucking whore, you can do so much better!

What the actual fuck!? He cheated on me and I didn’t post anything on social media because it’s no one’s business but his page is covered in lies and people slagging me off!

“Are you ok?” Shelly puts a comforting arm round me

“I’m furious, why would he say that?”

“Because he’s a compulsive liar and a prick, he doesn’t want people to think he’s the bad guy, I did write a response”

She flicks through her phone and passes it back to me,

Shelly: Firstly, you need to remember who you have on your ‘friends list’, nieces and nephews will see this and be devastated seeing what people are saying about their Auntie, secondly, you know full well that Alice has been nothing but faithful to you and the marriage breaking down lies solely at your feet!

“Thanks for sticking up for me” I say as I pass Shelly’s phone back,

“Don’t be silly, of course, I couldn’t have people slagging you off when they clearly have no idea what’s going on but you’re better off without people like that in your life”.

Well, at least now I know why I’ve been getting the death stares, I can’t believe they think I was the one who cheated, they obviously know nothing about me.

*

Later that evening, I’m snuggled on the sofa with my babies watching a movie before bed when there’s a knock at the door. I answer it and to my shock I see Dylan standing there, looking worse for wear,

“Hi?” I say confused “I wasn’t expecting to see you today”

“Me and Stacey broke up, I’m so sorry, I made such a big mistake, please take me back”, Dylan’s voice is shaky, and tears fill his eyes,

I’m in shock, is he for real right now “Dylan, no, you turned my world upside down I….”

Dylan interrupts “Alice please, I need you, I can’t live without you, I need my family back, I promise I’ll be the perfect husband”

“You vowed to be faithful to me till death us do part, I can’t ever trust you again, plus I’ve just seen what you wrote about me on F******k, why would you say that I was the one that cheated?”

“I was mad, you kicked me out, anyway that was over a year ago, please just let me in”

“I don’t want to talk to you right now, I’m just about to put the children to bed, I’ll talk to you another time but there’s no second chances, I won’t be able to trust you again”

Dylan’s eyes widen and his pupils are shrinking, his hands turn to fists,

“Let me in!” he shouts at me,

“Keep your voice down, you need to leave” I try to shut the door, but he slams it open, and it hits my arm sending pain shooting up to my shoulder.

“Are you ok mummy?” Rosie is standing in the living room doorway; her little face looks scared. Dylan pushes the door again,

“Alice, let me in” he shouts.

Rosie comes running over to the front door and pushes with both her hands to try and shut her dad out

“Joshua help” she calls “daddy’s being naughty”

I get my phone from my pocket “I’ll call the police if you don’t leave”

Dylan grabs my phone and smashes it on the floor.

“Leave her alone” someone shouts from behind Dylan, he turn’s to see my neighbour at her bedroom window “leave her alone” she repeats “I’ve called the police”

Dylan looks at me “fuck this” and walks off.

I grab Rosie and give her the biggest hug, “thank you my darling, I’m so sorry you saw that”

I check on Joshua and Harry. Joshua is sat on the sofa with his hands over his ears, Harry is thankfully fast asleep. I hold Joshua and Rosie in my arms and tell them how much I love them. How dare Dylan act that way in front of our children.