Very CIVILISED

They had once been the perfect match. Could they bring back the magic of the early days?

So, you see Mum, it’s all very civilised and amicable. No hard feelings on either side. It’s just that we’re not going anywhere, if you see what I mean,’ Zoe finished, looking down into her coffee cup, hoping her mother would take the news better than she had imagined she would.

Sondra said nothing for a moment. She stared at her daughter open-mouthed.

Finally, she sighed.

‘Well, actually no, I don’t see what you mean,’ she said quietly. ‘You and Mark have been happily married for three years now. As far as I know, you don’t have massive rows – I hope you’d have told me if there’d been anything serious, anyway. And I’ve certainly never sensed any coldness or an uncomfortable atmosphere when we’ve come to stay or popped round.’ She paused again, studying her daughter’s face. ‘Zoe, tell me honestly. What is this really about? Are either of you having an affair? Have you met someone else?’

Zoe groaned and took a sip of her coffee to calm herself. This was exactly what she’d pictured when she had first decided the time had come to tell her traditionally-minded mother the truth. Sondra adored Mark, and she wasn’t one for ‘taking the easy way out’, as she had been known to refer to divorce. If only Zoe could find a way to make her see that the decision was right for them both.

‘No, it’s not that. I knew you wouldn’t understand,’ she muttered petulantly. ‘It’s not like in your day, you know, when you just carried on because it was the thing to do. It’s just that the magic isn’t there any more. It’s all so… boring and predictable. We’ve lost our spark.’