‘Tis the Season to be Single: A feel-good festive romantic comedy for 2018 that will make you laugh-out-loud!. Laura Ziepe
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room was quiet and still.
Grace cleared her throat and continued. ‘I don’t feel appreciated, or even loved by you. You used to be all over me, and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world, but it’s changed. You’ve changed. I feel like you just expect me to cook and clean for you, you never offer to help with anything. You never want to go out with me either, but you have no trouble going out with your friends. There’s no passion between us anymore. It’s like you’re bored and complacent, and it doesn’t feel nice for me. And I’ve tried to talk to you—’ she played with her hair awkwardly ‘—but you just roll your eyes. You won’t ever discuss anything. You just tell me I’m creating unnecessary problems and I’m not.’
Simon exhaled sharply. ‘I’ll change, okay, I’ll do my best. I’m not perfect, I know that. I do love you and maybe I don’t show it enough. I’m sorry. Can we not just move on from this?’ He looked at her as though she was being unreasonable distracting him from the news. He didn’t grasp quite how serious Grace was about this.
Grace shook her head. ‘No, Simon, we clearly can’t. We’ve had this discussion before and it’s just not getting through to you, is it? I don’t know what I want anymore, but I know it’s not good for either of us to continue in this marriage the way it is. I want to split up,’ she announced confidently. Now her mind was made up, she wasn’t going to change it.
Simon raised his eyebrows and looked at the floor in disbelief. ‘You want a divorce?’ he questioned in surprise. ‘Things aren’t that bad, for God’s sake.’
‘They are to me,’ Grace replied sadly.
‘Oh, come on Grace, it’s not like I beat you or treat you badly.’ He clicked his tongue as if she was going over the top. Making a fuss over nothing.
Grace frowned. ‘You don’t treat me well. I shouldn’t have to stay in an unhappy marriage just because you don’t beat me.’ She shook her head, focusing on a tiny black stain on the grey fabric sofa.
‘I’m not saying that…’
‘I need to be alone, Simon. I’m sorry. I’ve made up my mind. Things haven’t been right here for ages, and you know it.’
Simon took deep breaths as it finally dawned on him that she truly meant it this time. ‘I do love you, Grace.’
‘If you love me then you’ll let me go,’ she told him, her eyes burning with tears. She felt like someone was strangling her, all hot and clammy. She removed her cardigan.
Simon remained silent, looking at the floor and Grace stood up and walked towards the kitchen, feeling relieved that she’d been brave enough to tell him.
Grace couldn’t believe she’d really said it. What would they do now? It was terrifying thinking of a new life without him. But as she gazed at Simon’s mess from that morning, still sitting on the kitchen work surface, she knew, for certain, that she’d made the right decision.
It was Amber Houghton’s favourite time of year and though she’d just returned to the chilly UK weather after spending three weeks in Thailand, the brightly-lit, festive high street was enough to put a smile on her face. The constant snippets of her favourite Christmas songs as she walked past the open shop entrances made her feel excited for the holidays ahead. It hadn’t felt like it was almost Christmas when she’d been abroad and it was nice to come home with something to look forward to.
As Amber strutted towards Tidemans, she felt a warm glow admiring their beautiful gold and red décor. They got it right every year, she thought in approval. Gone was the tacky tinsel and garish ribbons from years ago, replaced with only the finest, elegant decorations; the shop looked truly stunning giving her inspiration for her own flat. It was about time she bought some new Christmas lights, wreaths and garlands.
She was looking forward to seeing Grace and Rachel again. The three had become really close over the years and Amber couldn’t wait to tell them all about her trip. She frowned deeply as she spotted them both standing at the counter arranging the make-up looking miserable. Grace usually had a warm, smiley face, but she had dark circles under her eyes that showed she’d had trouble sleeping, and Rachel looked pasty and thin, her hair lank and lifeless. Immediately, Amber could tell something was wrong. Something had changed. Amber had always had a good instinct and she recalled the time her mother had asked her to sit down so they could talk when she’d been only six years old. Amber had known without her mother saying a word, that something very serious had happened and her life was about to change. She could see it in her mother’s eyes and feel it in her pained expression and tense atmosphere. She’d somehow guessed that it was about her father and her mother had confirmed that he’d left them. Gone off without even a goodbye. Amber had never seen him again.
‘Hi.’ Amber smiled and gave Rachel and Grace a hug.
‘Amber, how was your holiday?’ Grace asked.
‘You look amazing,’ Rachel added. ‘I’m so jealous of your tan.’
Amber stepped back and looked them both in the eye. ‘Are you going to tell me what’s happened? What’s wrong with you both?’
They glanced at each other sadly before turning back to her.
‘You first,’ Grace encouraged Rachel.
Rachel breathed out audibly and Amber couldn’t help but notice that her usually impeccable make-up looked sloppy and rushed. Her foundation was a shade too dark, not blended in properly along her jawline, her mascara was smudged under her left eye and her lip liner was all over the place, making her lips look large and wonky. She looked like she just didn’t care. This wasn’t Rachel. Rachel never normally had a hair out of place.
Amber stood open-mouthed as Rachel and Grace explained what had happened. She couldn’t have been more surprised if she’d tried.
‘I’ve only been gone for three weeks. How can it be that all this has happened?’ she questioned, flummoxed.
Rachel and Grace looked at each other blankly as if they were both wondering the same thing.
‘We’re still living together,’ Grace stated, looking ashamed as though she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. ‘Which I know is bad, but I’ve hardly seen him. He’s staying in our spare room. He’s tried to talk to me to change my mind a few times, but I know if I give him another chance, things will go straight back to how they are now and I won’t allow that to happen. I’m going to move out soon, but it’s just the cost of renting…’
‘Why don’t you find somewhere together?’ Amber suggested, realising it made perfect sense. ‘Halve the cost and bills?’
‘That’s a good idea actually,’ Rachel replied chirpily. ‘If you want, that is?’ she asked hopefully, her eyes flicking to Grace.
‘I’d love to live with you,’ she responded, an expression of pure delight creasing her face and making her look like the old Grace for a few moments. ‘I hadn’t thought of that.’
‘I’m quite excited now.’ Rachel grinned. ‘I’ve felt utterly rubbish since I found out about Mark and Bianca, but this is something for us to look forward to. We can even spend Christmas Eve together if we move quickly. Do the place up all nice and Christmassy. There’s some gorgeous new decorations upstairs.’
‘I hope there’s room for one more on your Christmas Eve gathering?’ Amber flashed them a smile, feeling more upbeat about her friends’ situations. To say she was stunned was an understatement. She was usually the single one. Rachel and Grace were the two in relationships. That was the way it was. The way it had always been. It would be strange getting used to them both being free and unattached, but it would be fun, Amber would make sure of that. Amber was happy to be the single one while the other two spoke about