Double DELIGHT

Beverley couldn’t help but worry about her husband – was history about to be repeated?

- Christine Pinfold

Beverley was at her wits’ end. Her marriage was suffering and her heart was in pieces. What sort of husband and father struggled to welcome new grandchildren into his life?

She was putting the finishing touches to her make-up, mindful of the dreadful quarrel she’d had with Cliff the previous night. She was trying to understand, she really was, but sometimes it all got too much, and they covered the same ground over and over again. Just because Cliff had been adopted and had the misfortune never to have been loved by his adoptive father, it didn’t mean history would be repeated.

And it was a blessing to now be having twins in the family – Harry and Patti. What could be more perfect than that? If only Cliff could feel the same way. Something had to be done. They were only a week away from meeting the toddlers.

She heard Cliff come in, close the door and put his golf bag into the cupboard under the stairs. He was spending more and more time on the golf course these days. If he wasn’t on the golf course, he could be found in the greenhouse, which would be fine, conceded Beverley, except that his pastimes were becoming a priority in his life – since receiving news of the adoption.

She then heard him clattering about in the kitchen.

‘Do you have time for coffee before you go?’ he shouted up to her.

‘Yes, plenty of time.’ She was meeting their daughter Angela for lunch, but first she had Cliff to contend with.

‘I’m sorry for last night. I said some pretty harsh things,’ said Beverley, coming into the kitchen and taking the steaming mug of coffee from her husband.