Moving On Read Online Free PDF

They’re in the garage at the moment and I need to clear it out.’
    She put the phone down on her son. Her hand was shaking, but Brian couldn’t see that. She no longer wanted to weep, though. She wanted to throw something. So she did. She picked up a glass vase Craig’s mother had once given them, such a cheap, ugly thing that he’d not wanted to take it with him. Opening the back door, she hurled it at the patio wall. It smashed into myriad pieces, and even though she knew she’d have to sweep them up later, it still felt wonderful to do it!
    As she went back into the house, she had a sudden thought. She went on line and found a local locksmith, noting down the phone number. She was pretty sure Brian and Rachel didn’t have back door keys, but they both had front door keys. Craig might still have one, too. The back door keys were big, old-fashioned things and there had only ever been two of them. She went to check. Yes, one was hanging on the key rack in the pantry and the other was in the back door.
    She rang the locksmith, arranging to have the front door lock changed within the hour, pretending she’d had an intruder.
    She must have done something very wrong as a mother, to have raised children who turned out so uncaring. Yet she’d loved them so much. Had she been too soft with them, as Craig always claimed? Yes, she decided, wiping away more tears – she had. He’d been far stricter and look how they respected him.
    She couldn’t help caring about them, even now, but love was a two-way street, or it should be. And she wasn’t going to hang around any longer, begging for crumbs of affection, letting them walk all over her.
    It was time to toughen up. No one was going to get the better of her from now on. She couldn’t live through such an agonizing humiliation again.
    Half an hour later the doorbell rang and when she peeped out of the window, Molly saw her friend Nikki outside.
    She wasn’t sure she was ready to face anyone yet, even such a close friend, but she went to answer it.
    Nikki burst into the house with her usual exuberance. ‘So . . . how did the wedding go?’
    Molly fought for control and lost the struggle within less than a minute. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she let Nikki guide her into the kitchen and poured out her tale of woe, ending, ‘And they didn’t even let me invite you to the wedding, even though you’ve known the children since they were small. I’m sorry about that.’
    Nikki listened without commenting other than to make soothing noises, then hugged her and went to fish in the fridge. ‘What you need is a glass of wine.’
    ‘Why not.’
    She poured them both some. ‘Here’s to your new life.’
    Molly dutifully clinked glasses, but she might have been drinking vinegar for all she could taste.
    ‘What are you going to do now?’
    ‘I’m not sure, but I’ve made a start, at least.’
    ‘You have?’
    Her friend sounded so doubtful, Molly said defiantly, ‘Yes. I’ve got as far as chucking Brian out and deciding to put this house up for sale.’
    Nikki cheered loudly and did a war dance round the room. ‘About time. Haven’t I been telling you to give him the elbow? Haven’t I?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Did he ever pay you any rent? Or contribute towards the electricity and food?’
    ‘Now and then.’
    ‘How often is that?’
    ‘About once a month.’
    ‘He’s in for a shock, then. Reality has sharp teeth.’
    Molly nodded, took another sip of wine and said what she’d been thinking. ‘I’ve been an absolute doormat, haven’t I?’
    ‘Yes. But a lovely one.’ Nikki leaned forward to give her a hug. ‘My very favourite doormat, in fact.’ She picked up her glass, swirling what was left round and round, then asked, ‘Have you seen Brian yet?’
    ‘No. He’s not due back till Friday.’
    ‘He’ll try to persuade you to change your mind. Don’t give in. Please.’
    ‘I won’t.’
    ‘You might. You’ve always been a soft touch.’
    It was