The Fake Wife

Being a Coward

Jake

Like a coward, I waited until the driver drove off with my father to New York to reverse into the Manor's driveway.

The last time I saw him was Halloween. Frankly, I was still hurt, Dad could not get over it and asked me to play golf.

Martin opened the door and said Mum had yet to arrive downstairs. I paced as I waited for her in the family room. As soon as I sensed her perfume in the room, I started talking even before I turned to face her. "Do you know what happened, Mother? Alison went to Teddy's house after our conversation. She baked him a bloody pie, Mum!!!"

I ran a hand through my hair, messed it up, and returned the picture frame I was holding from Olly and me as kids in France. Mum stayed quiet, and I kept unleashing everything I could no longer swallow.

I turned to face her. "Do you want to know what happened after that? When I returned last night, Alison was crying because my secretary wasn't aware she existed."

Mum gasped at the news and covered her mouth before asking. "Oh, my God, Jake!! Is the poor thing alright? Alison must be devastated."

I shook my head. "That's all your doing, Mum! Why are you showing her around like that? All those people in my house. Alison is also going to people's houses, and I will have to tell Jessica about my personal life. Because I'm sure Alison will call the office again."

She walked to the sofa and sat. "That will be for the best, Jake."

"No, Mum, it isn't." I clenched my eyes, tired of walking in circles. I hate talking about my life. It was nobody's business, and now I would have to do it, and it would all be a lie.

"Once Alison gets her memories back, what will you do?" I raised my eyebrow. She must not be thinking of the consequences of her acts. "Because it isn't only Father that has a prestigious reputation. You also have one in this community. What are you going to tell everybody once I send Alison away?"

I crossed my arms. "That your loving eldest son had a failed marriage, and Alison was so bad of a mother that she left the children with me and never returned? Is that what you want everyone to think?"

Mum smiled, trying to fix the situation. "We shouldn't talk about that now, Jake. Alison is still recovering. We don't know how long time it will take until it's time for her to go."

"Mum, I agreed with this temporarily. Even if Alison's memories don't return, I will 'divorce' her." I made air quotes with the word divorce because that would be another charade I would have to take part in. Should I get someone to play Judge Judy too?

"Alison has started her treatment, and once Doctor White and his team are more familiarised with her condition, he will find me a solution to keep Alison out of my life without her having any psychological damage."

I joined her on the sofa. I felt like a headmaster giving out to my mother. "Well, I'm sure after your husband's outburst this week, he has already made a few calls to doctors he knows. Or do you think Dad will be quiet about it? You are aware of the man you married to."

She waved her hand and fixed the cushion behind her back. "Jake, let me deal with your father. And about all this ordeal. Aren't you happy that you sleep in the same house as the children daily because now they have a loving mother looking after their needs?"

Mum was talking like nothing was happening. I have never seen her so calm in my whole life. We were lying now to so many people. Could she not see it?

"Wasn't that the reason you bought that house, Jake? You get to have dinner and put the boys to bed every night as you wish. Son, that arrangement you figured out months ago when Jamie came to us was killing you. You were a part-time father, and you hated it. Now you get to see them every day."