THE BRAND NEW MUM
‘Why should I get ready for bed now, you’re not my real mum?’ muttered eleven year old Chloe, such an angelic looking girl with flowing golden locks, but very wilful.
‘Yes Chloe, Dad needs to agree to it first,’ said sister Rebecca, two years younger, no less pretty but with dark curly hair.
‘Our real mum always let us stay up later,’ she added quite unhelpfully. Rebecca was generally under the influence of her domineering older sister, especially when it came to the art of how to speak to her new substitute mother.
‘But your dad won’t be home for at least an hour,’ I said despairingly.
This situation had become all too familiar since I moved in with the girls’ father Julian, three months earlier. He’d lost his wife to cancer and I’d just emerged from a stormy relationship. My friends all said it was too soon but was I going to listen? No, of course I wasn’t.
Julian and I had first bumped into each other while peering into the frozen peas compartment in the local supermarket. We made eye contact and, on impulse, I uttered the immortal words, ‘Petit Pois go well with most meals don’t they?’
My impulsiveness had caused this situation and I was now paying the price. The girls were being a pain and I didn’t know what to do. I sat there with my head in my hands, and was sure I’d burst into tears. Just at that moment I was relieved to hear the sound of a key turning in the front door. In walked Julian, looking a million dollars, the epitome of the young ambitious executive.
Every time I saw him, I remembered why I’d been instantly smitten, tall, slim, and with neatly groomed jet black hair, a real dreamboat.
‘Hi everyone. I’m pleased to say that the meeting finished early. My presentation seemed to go down really well, and my boss thinks we have a great chance of winning the contract. How’s bedtime going Amanda?’
Much as I wanted to hear more about Julian’s successful day at the office, my head was full of the challenge of getting the girls to bed. I also needed to finish cooking his dinner.
Before I could reply to the question, Chloe piped up.
‘Mandy’s making us go to bed way too early Dad. Mummy always let us stay up later on a Tuesday to watch East Enders!’
‘We said we wouldn’t go to bed now unless you said it was ok Dad,’ added Rebecca.
‘Over to you Jules. I’ve just heard something boiling on the cooker,’ I said, realising it was rather hard on him, considering he’d only just walked into the house after a day’s work.
As I stirred the steaming saucepan, I decided that Julian and I should have a serious chat later.
***
‘That was a lovely meal Amanda, your vegetarian lasagne with petit pois is amazing. It rounded off a great day, what with my presentation going far better than I expected. Sorry if the girls gave you a hard time though.’
‘Well at least they’re asleep now, as far as we know that is. Glad you liked the petit pois, reminds me of how we met.’
I paused before dropping my bombshell.
‘I know you’ve had a tiring day but I need to talk to you about something important.’
He looked startled. I couldn’t help feeling guilty that I was about to ruin his perfect day.
‘That sounds ominous. What would you like to discuss Mandy?’
‘Well you know I love you dearly Jules?’
‘Yes of course I do, and I love you too. After Caroline died, I never thought I’d find happiness again, but you’ve made such a difference to my life. The girls like you too, although I appreciate it’s very difficult for the three of you to adapt to this new situation.’
‘Well that’s what I wanted to talk to you about…’
***
Following my chat with Julian, I’d moved out the same evening, and was now staying temporarily at my friend Anne’s flat. Two weeks later, Anne and I were watching television when my mobile phone rang. It was Julian’s number. I thought about it for ten seconds and then decided to answer.
‘Hello.’
‘Hi Mandy, how are you, it’s Jules. Why don’t you come back? I miss you and the girls miss you too.’
‘I’m sorry Jules, I loved you but I should never have moved in. I didn’t think it through. I thought I could cope with the girls, but I was being naïve. I’m not blaming them though, I understand how difficult it was.’
‘I’ve spoken to them about it many times Mandy, and they want to make a fresh start. They really like you.’
‘I feel like I’ve let you down but I know it’s for the best. I’m so sorry Julian,’ I said before clicking the red ‘end call’ button. Cruel maybe, but it was the only way of ending the conversation. I then started sobbing uncontrollably.
‘What’s the matter Mandy?’
I explained to Anne what had happened.
‘I know what you mean Mandy. The same thing happened to me, it’s so difficult isn’t it?’
***
Three months later I’d settled back into my life as a single woman of thirty-three. I was renting a studio flat. I’d cut my hours while looking after Chloe and Rebecca but was now back working full time.
It was the start of a new working week. I had just switched on my computer when my manager Trudi came out of her office, and walked purposefully towards me. She was a tall, slim, grey haired lady who could be quite intimidating at times but always meant well.
‘How was your weekend Mandy?’
I replied although I knew she wasn’t really interested. She would listen without hearing, and then it would be straight down to business.
‘Great thanks Trudi.’
‘Can I see you about something?’
‘Of course.’
I followed her into the tiny office. I noticed a new framed photograph of her husband and two teenage sons on her desk, all looking quite serious.
‘Just to let you know Mandy that management have invited in a firm of consultants to review how we run things here in the Human Resources Department. The head of the project is coming in at eleven o’clock and I’d like you to look after him.’
‘Ok that’s fine. What’s his name?’
‘They didn’t say who it would be, I’ve met four of them so far and they all seem quite pleasant. Don’t be fooled by their easy going charm though. Their final report could result in you and I losing our jobs.’
After finishing a disciplinary interview with a man who’d sworn at a colleague, I was feeling quite drained. Twenty minutes to go before my meeting with the consultant and it was time for a cup of tea and a biscuit. As I stood in the small office kitchen, munching on a digestive, I could see our receptionist escorting someone to the waiting area. My first impression was of a chunkily built man of about thirty-five, probably a rugby player.
I walked up to the reception area. ‘Hello my name’s Amanda. Trudi has asked me to tell you how we manage our HR department here at Signet Insurance.’
‘Pleased to meet you Amanda, I’m Trevor Wilson. I’m heading up the project. My colleague is due to join me, but unfortunately he has been delayed as his daughter is unwell.’
‘Oh dear, I hope she’ll be ok. Shall we get started and maybe he’ll arrive soon?’
‘OK thanks Amanda.’
‘Well first of all I’ll run through the organisation chart. As you can see I report to…’
I stopped in mid-sentence and stared open-mouthed through the window of the meeting room at the man being led into the department. It was the tall, slim, dark haired man I’d walked out on… my ex-partner Julian!
So this was the contract he’d spoken about on the day we parted. It was my own fault. I’d been so keen to talk to him about the problems with the girls, that I hadn’t even asked him about it.
What was I going to do? I decided I would act professionally. As Julian entered the meeting room, his face was a picture, a mixture of shock, pleasure at seeing me and uncertainty.
‘Oh hi Julian, this is Amanda. How’s Chloe?’
‘Hello Amanda, pleased to meet you. Chloe’s ok now thanks and decided to go into school after all.’ said Julian, doing his best not to betray his recognition of me to Trevor. He almost succeeded.
‘Have you two met before?’
***
Six months later, Anne and I met for a coffee during our lunch break.
‘How are things going with Trevor, Mandy?’
‘Well, although his report resulted in my redundancy, we certainly made an impression on each other. Luckily I managed to find a great job, with his help, as head of HR at the local Robinsons superstore. So it’s the dream scenario, a pay-off, a promotion and, as a bonus, a new boyfriend. He has to keep quiet about our relationship to his colleagues.’
‘And a new found interest in rugby I hear Mandy.’
‘Yes, I love watching him play although I get really cold standing on the touchline.’
‘What happened about you having to work with Julian?’
‘Well he eventually came clean about our past relationship, and asked to be taken off the project. I hear he juggles his hours so he can take the girls to school in the morning, and pick them up in the afternoon. He’s decided that, hard as it is, the only way forward is for him to take full responsibility for their upbringing. I really admire him for it.’
‘Well it’s good that everything turned out for the best Mandy. I’ll buy you a cappuccino to celebrate!’
THE END