Someone Else – Jenny 55

[For a quick guide go here: Quick guide.]

[There's some back story here: Story so far at 30 Nov 2020 and read more recent Jenny episodes maybe this one.]

[Other back story through in-links.]

Jenny sat down in the kitchen with Peter and Helen. They’d just got back from school and were generally used to being allowed to head off to their rooms or wherever they wanted to go so the mere fact that they were being made to sit down for a talk made the situation immediately serious.

Earlier, Jenny and Izzy sat down in the kitchen. They sat on their usual stools but this time they were facing each other rather than side by side. This move alone showed  both of them that something was up. That something was going to happen that they didn’t want to happen, and yet could not stop.

“What are the kids going to say?” started Izzy, half way down the road of the split-up already.

“You’re not even going to try and save this?” asked Jenny.

“No, they wouldn’t say that,” said Izzy. “They have other friends with divorced parents. Might not be so remarkable for them.”

“We’ve always been strong,” said Jenny. “Until now. Now you’re running away and I think that might be a shock.”

“Izzy’s leaving,” said Helen, matter of factly reading the room.

“Your mum and I...” started Jenny.

“Hate each other,” finished Peter, chomping at his toast.

“Look I don’t hate you,” said Izzy to Jenny.

“Good,” said Jenny.

“But there is someone else.”

Jenny tried to hold her nerve.

“How? Who?”

“I just happened to start chatting online with...”

“No forget it I don’t want to know. When are you moving out?”

“When is she moving out?” asked Helen. “I mean I assume that’s why you’re telling us and not...”

“Is she taking the bedroom with her?” asked Peter half way into his second slice.

Jenny cupped her hands around her tea, hoping that she could draw some homespun wisdom, warmth or just tea, actually, from the current situation.

“I think she’s staying with friends,” said Jenny.

“Just get the hell out of this house, take one suitcase – you have time for one suitcase and that’s it. Do you hear me? And you can find this other person whoever the hell it is and they can damn well have you and your damned suitcase full of damned clothes and take that sodding bike with you and....”

“I guess there’s a chance you might make up again,” mused Helen, optimistically. “We’ve all been through a lot.  It’s understandable if you’re having trouble together and you never know a bit of a break might do you good.”

“Yes,” said Jenny, “Maybe.”

“I never ever want to see you again,” Jenny said clearly and precisely. “If there’s stuff you want to pick up from here do it when I’m out. And yes, thanks to you I’m hardly ever out so you’d better get yourself sorted as best you can and work quickly.”

“I don’t want anything else,” said Izzy. “Just a suitcase and the computer. I’ll stay with...  and then I’m going back to New Zealand.”

“We will see her again, right?” said Peter. “I mean, she is our mum. We should be able to see her again, if not with you then independently.”

“Yes,” said Jenny. “Maybe.”

“I’ll be in touch,” said Izzy.

“Keys,” said Jenny.

“We’ll all be OK,” said Helen. 

“Oh yeah,” said Jenny. “Fine with just the three of us. I mean in a way it’s been a bit like that anyway, what with her working so much, so it might not be all that different. Except that she’s not here.”

“If she was working where’s the money coming from?” asked Peter.

“I’ll work something out,” said Jenny.

“There might be a job at the old place that you could do,” said Helen. “If you don’t mind working there again and if you can work with her.”

“Might not have to work with her,” said Jenny.

“And we can do more around the house, can’t we?” said Peter.

He got up, smiled, hugged his mum and went to the front room, leaving the empty plate with the toast crusts on for Jenny to clear up.

Izzy put her keys on the key hanger next to the front door, swung it open, picked up her case and left. Jenny closed the door firmly behind her and sighed. Then went to the living room and looked out the window as Izzy walked away down the road.

Then she went to the second hand bike site she knew and listed the machine she’d been bought for Xmas. It hadn’t lost much value and it would be a start.

As the kids headed up stairs to reconnect with the normal part of their day Jenny, still in the kitchen called out: “I am available for questions at any time, by the way.”