Happily Ever After_ - Benison Anne O'Reilly [128]
Alex recently got a promotion at work (good = more money). In fact he now has Edward’s old job, beating, amongst others, Amanda for the position. She now hates him just as much as she hates me. With the job came an opportunity to study for an MBA at company expense. He approached me with this news apologetically. ‘I think I should knock it back. It’s too much of an imposition on you.’
‘No, no…’ I said, ‘I want you to do it.’
‘Are you sure? Most of my classes would be in the evening and I don’t want to leave you in the lurch with the kids.’
‘Yes, I’m completely sure. It would be a great career move and silly to say no to.’
I don’t think he’s guessed my real motives! I’m looking around for part-time work at present and when Alex finishes his studies I’m planning to sign up for my own postgraduate degree.
Oh, though I should say I only like my independence during waking hours. I adore having him in my bed every night and miss him dreadfully when he goes away on the occasional business trip. I love all the cuddling up under the covers, and when he brings Henry and Issy into bed with us in the morning, and sometimes I just love lying awake beside him, simply watching him sleep. During those moments I quietly wonder at the mysteries of human attraction, and thank my lucky stars that of all the girls in the world he could have fallen in love with, this wonderful young man somehow chose me.
What more is there to say?
With the conception and birth of Henry I thought it wise to discreetly unsubscribe from my infertility chat group, but have kept in contact with my American friend Suzanne and am delighted to report that she has just become the adoptive mother of a gorgeous little Chinese baby girl. I’m currently saving up my pennies so we can go and visit them soon. Being no longer married to a pilot, cheap air fares are sadly a thing of the past for me.
I was understandably anxious about meeting Alex’s mother, Chandra, after so rudely gatecrashing her family, but she has welcomed me with open arms and seems to adore Isabel almost as much as her own grandson. Sophie also came home for a visit to meet her new nephew and is every bit as sweet and beautiful as she appears in that photo. I now see why Alex is the man he is and only feel sorry that I never got to meet his dad.
Paul has forgiven me and we are now firm friends. When Alex moved out of Balmain, his new girl Carla moved in.
Oh, and Andy has brought his partner, Juan, out to live in Australia. Pamela and Douglas seem to be adjusting to this better than anyone expected; probably they knew all along. Andy and Juan visit us often. It is lovely for Isabel to see so much of her uncle, although I’m not sure Andrew and Juan’s motives are completely innocent. I’ve discovered that Alex provokes the same reaction amongst gay men as he does amongst women and suspect they have both fallen in love with him. I hate to break it to the boys but I feel a man so clearly turned on by a pregnant and lactating woman probably has his feet firmly planted in the heterosexual camp.
I feel that last conversation with my ex - the one where he told me about the counselling - was our probably last really intimate one. Now we tend to stick to chat about Isabel but it’s a relief to once again speak cordially to one another. Andy keeps me filled in on what he’s up to. I never would have said this until recently but I think Tony will end up being happier with Wendy than he ever was with me. Ultimately the woman in Tony’s life has to be prepared to fit in around his job (to be fair he did tell me this before we were married) and I think Wendy, with her own background in the industry, will cope with this better than me. Also, Andy tells me that she runs the house like a military operation, with all her boys