Free Never Too Late by Jay Howard

the fore feelings he normally kept locked well away.
    “And Chloe knew you were still here,” Maggie stated stiffly. It wasn’t the first time she’d been the last person to know what he was doing.
    His daughter always knows, his colleagues always know, it’s just his wife who is never informed of his movements and plans.
    As she half turned away from him Iain saw the light and shadow on her profile bringing out her exquisite fine bone structure. Yes, she would retain her lovely features long into old age.
    She felt angry, confused and miserable that she could feel jealous of her own daughter. But it was true. When James was born she slipped into second place in the hierarchy of importance to Iain. When Chloe was born both she and James slipped another notch. When the business really started to take off she alone slipped yet another place. James didn’t go further down in his father’s estimation until he made it plain he had no intention of studying architecture or anything else remotely related to his father’s business. He was adamant he was not going to be the heir apparent and he had forfeited his father’s attention from that point on.
    “How was your day?” she managed to ask.
    Iain took a sip of his scotch and turned to top it up before answering. “Much as usual – subcontractors not doing as instructed when they’re instructed. Supplies not arriving to schedule. The usual balls up of British so-called workmanship and red tape delaying everything even further.” He looked back at her. “And you?”
    Oh, you are so lovely, but such a stranger now, so stiff and unwelcoming. Where has life taken you my darling Maggie? Why did you leave me, in spirit if not in body? Why didn’t you leave me in body too instead of sitting there torturing me?
    Her mind raced over the multitude of small tasks she had done, all of which would seem so trivial and uninteresting to her husband. “Oh, just the usual bumbling about. Not much of anything happens here, you know,” she said with a little apologetic half laugh.
    Yes, she admitted to herself, I’m boring, and have been for a long time. No wonder he isn’t interested in me any more. We sound like two strangers, passing the time until the train arrives to carry them off to their separate destinations. Like in Brief Encounter.
    A little shiver went down her spine.
    “Well, if you don’t need anything else,” Maggie managed to say, “I think I’ll just go on up to bed.”
    She couldn’t quite fathom Iain’s expression as he looked at her, his eyes unreadable from where he stood half in shadow by the drinks cabinet. He raised his glass to her and she felt he was mocking her with the salute.
    “Good night, love,” he said, his voice very cool and controlled. “I’ll try not to disturb you.” He took his drink into the study as Maggie went up to bed.
    Always, always controlled, Maggie thought desperately. Why can I never tell what’s going on in your mind? Why won’t you let me in?
    With the blue package in his hand Iain stood a long time in front of the portrait he’d commissioned of Maggie and the children. She was sat with an arm around toddler James and baby Chloe in her lap. Chloe was in the christening gown Maggie had laboured so many hours over before James was born. It was of a beautiful soft white lawn, with pin tucks and embroidery, that she had envisaged using for their own planned five children and all the generations to come. She looked so radiantly happy back then. He hinged back the painting and opened the safe behind it.
    I will not cry, Maggie kept repeating to herself as she prepared for bed. I’ve done enough crying for the whole of Surrey and I’ll not do any more! It’s been too long, too many years of him seeing me just as the mother of his children and the provider of his home comforts, for me to get upset any more.
    So why did it still hurt so much?
    If only I’d known he was coming home tonight I’d have been mentally