Runaway Wife

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

She paused in the paneled hall to listen for the unmistakable note of the car, but only heard the rustle of wind among the sycamores in the garden until the phone rang, making her jump. It cut out as the machine came into operation and she relaxed again. Where could he be? He had said he would be home by seven, and it was a quarter past. The smell of the roasting duck was more pronounced; she had better go and check on it before it burnt.

Pumasok siya sa kusina, nagsuot ng apron para protektahan ang kanyang damit at nagsuot ng oven gloves. Mukang maluluto na ang pato kaya naman ibinalik niya ito sa oven saka inayos ang temperatura pababa dahil hindi pa nadating ni Meir. Paborito rin ng kanyang anak ang pato; lagi niya itong niluluto para kay Jon sa kanyang kaarawan, ngunit gusto niya itong pinalamanan ng mga dalandan at inihahain ng na may orange na sarsa. Mas gusto naman ni Meir ang mga cherry. Nakahain naman sa mesa ang mga gulay na ilalagay niya sa lamesa na balak niyang lutuin sa lalong madaling panahon.

Mange-tout was another of Jon's favorites. She missed her son badly; her days had revolved around him since his birth. She had been perfectly happy and busy down here in Sussex while Meir was away abroad, or working in London, Jon needed her and both she and Meir wanted a tranquil country life for their only child. This was a beautiful old house; Jon loved it as much as she did, he had a happy childhood and she didn't regret for an instant on deciding not to live in London. But now that Jon was away at boarding-school she was increasingly lonely. She had always known that Meir meant Jon to go away to school when he was eight, and she usually accepted all her husband's decisions without argument, but over Jon going away she had fought him.

(Flashback…)

Meir had been surprised; almost incredulous. He was a very important man now. He employed hundreds of people who all jumped when he said jump. People didn't argue with him at least of his own wife. When Liberty said she did not want Jon to go away Meir had starred with his black brows jerking together, his grey eyes cold with impatient disbelief. He was a very tall man, with an incisive, angular face; but it was his personality which was most dominating, and Liberty had to summon all her courage to challenge him.

“You know I've had Jon's name down there since he was a year old. Don't be ridiculous. He'll soon settle down. Other boys do, why shouldn't he? Unless you've been putting silly ideas into his head and telling him he won't like it there?" His narrowed eyes had stabbed at her and she had felt like running away.

“Of course I haven't!" She protested nervously and yet she stood her ground in the face of Meir's displeasure, which probably surprised him even more. “I haven't said a word to him, but he's so small, too young to go away from home yet. Can't it wait another year?”

Ayaw niyang mawala ang anak niya sa tabi niya, she love her son so much and jon is too young to live alone.

“Eight is when all the other boys start there,” Meir's mouth had been hard with insistence. "Jon's quite mature, he'll cope. Don't try to make a baby out of him.” Anito sakanya na ikinawasak niya, that word had silenced her, pain had flared in her dark blue eyes and she had bent her long, slim neck, her throat closing in anguish.

Meir had won because she couldn't bear to say another syllable, although she doubted if Meir realized why she suddenly capitulated. She was sure he would not knowingly have hurt her. He had used that word without thinking. Jon had gone off to boarding-school looking very small and helpless to her, leaving this house cold and empty, and her without an occupation. She had had a few scrappy notes from him since; it sounded as if he was gradually getting used to being away from home, but even if that eased her mind a little she was still lonely.

Hindi na siya nagkaroon ng isa pang anak matapos dumating si Jon. Siya ay umaasa sa loob ng maraming taon at mayroon pa nga siyang mga pagsusuri sa isang klinika, ngunit wala namang mali sa kanya, hindi maipaliwanag ng mga doktor kung bakit siya nabuntis kay Jon sa loob ng ilang linggo nang magsimulang subukan ang isang sanggol, ngunit ngayon ay tila hindi na ito magawang muli.

Meir had never been as eager for another child as she was; he had been happy enough just having his son. He'd felt Liberty should stop worrying about getting pregnant again and concentrate on Jon. They had plenty of time, he said; they could think about another baby once Jon was older. But as the years passed and he became more and more successful, and more and more busy, he and Liberty saw less and less of each other, that second baby remained a shadowy dream for her.

If she had other child, especially if she had a daughter, she wouldn't be feeling so low, because someone would still need her, but, as it was, she had decided that she must do something to change the pattern of her life. She must either have another baby or get a job. Life couldn't go on the way it had lately, or she would go crazy.

The phone began to jangle again; after the third ring the answering machine took over. Liberty took off her apron and went slowly to the window to look down the drive to the high iron gates. They were electronically controlled and had been made by one of Meir's own companies. When he arrived he would operate the remote control in his car and the gates would swing open for him.

(Flashback ends…)

Liberty stared at the phone while biting her lip. Meir was now nearly half an hour late. That would not surprise her if it’s any other evening, but he had promised faithfully not to be late tonight. He knew she was cooking a special meal, timed exactly for eight o'clock, and this was their tenth wedding anniversary for heaven's sake! It wasn't just any other day of the year!

But what if something had gone wrong? What if these telephone calls were from Meir explaining that he would be late? He could have had an accident; he could have broken down on the way home. Anything could have happened. She leaned over to rewind the machine, and then played the messages recorded on the tape, her body taut as she recognized the woman's voice.

“Mrs. Ransom, I'm so sorry...” Miss Sylvester had a voice dripping with charm; it matched her luscious appearance. She was a redhead with feline green eyes and a smile that can attract many men. “Mr. Ransom has been called to an emergency board meeting. There has been a serious incident in the Welsh factory. He asked me to apologies and say he would be home as soon as humanly possible, but not to wait dinner for him.”

Liberty sat down on the nearest chair and dropped her head into her hands while the other woman's sweet voice murmured on. “Such a pity...it’s your anniversary, isn't it? I hope you liked the roses. I'll be in touch as soon as there's news."

The second call was from her father-in-law. “Berty? I just heard on the news that one of Meir's factories has blown up. Let me know if there's anything I can do. I'll be at home all evening."

She lifted her head, her eyes dark with tears, trying to smile. Typical of him to hear it so quickly and as if she don’t know what he means but, he didn't say so, but he was offering to come around and keep her company while Meir head off to Wales. Harry knew how much she had been looking forward to this anniversary weekend; he knew how hard it would hit her when she was cheated of it.

The third call was from the local newspaper, trying to get hold of Meir. She got up and reset the machine before the Press rang again; they would mostly be ringing his London number, especially the national papers, and Meir had Press relations officers to deal with them, but Liberty did not want to talk to anyone who thought of whoever rings here.