As the evening settled in, she carefully arranged the logs in the hearth and struck a match, watching as the kindling caught and a warm, flickering glow filled the room.
Settling onto the air bed, Lauren uncorked a bottle of red wine and savoured the rich, velvety liquid as she gazed at the mesmerising dance of the flames.
As the night wore on and the wine flowed, Lauren reached for her laptop, logging into Spotify and filling the room with her favourite songs.
When was the last time I felt this free?
The lyrics of a poignant love song stirred memories of Rain, and for a fleeting moment, she considered reaching out. But as quickly as the thought arose, it dissipated, and Lauren reminded herself that this time was meant for self-reflection and healing. Gradually, the music and the warmth of the fire lulled her into a deep, peaceful sleep.
The next few days flew by. Lauren spent her time bingeing on Netflix series and, in between, talking to Ben and Sydney via Zoom. She was glad to see that Ben was happier than she had seen him in a while, due to Sydney spoiling him rotten, no doubt. Knowing this took some of the guilt away she felt for taking time out for herself.
On the sixth morning, a knock at the front door roused Lauren from her sleep. Groggy and slightly disoriented, she made her way to answer it.
As she opened the door, she came face to face with a handsome man with a warm, friendly smile and a crew cut.
‘Hi, I’m Mark,’ he said, extending his hand in a cordial gesture. ‘Your next-door neighbour. I just wanted to come by and welcome you to the neighbourhood.’
Lauren returned his smile and shook his hand. ‘Hi, Mark. I’m Lauren.’
‘I’ve got the kettle on if you’d like a cuppa,’ Mark offered, glancing over her shoulder into the living room.
‘Another time, maybe,’ Lauren replied. ‘I had a late night and could use a bit more sleep.’
‘No worries,’ Mark said, understanding in his tone. ‘Feel free to come over anytime. I work from home and always welcome pleasant distractions.’
‘I’ll keep that in mind,’ Lauren said, before closing the door.
She padded back to bed, pulling the covers over her head. The last thing she needed was an overly familiar neighbour when all she craved was time to herself.
Despite her best efforts, sleep eluded her, and eventually, Lauren rose, built a new fire, and tidied up before taking a shower and preparing breakfast. As she sat outside in the garden, about to take a bite of her toast, a movement caught her eye. Mark was leaning over the hedge.
‘Nothing beats it, does it?’ Mark said, gesturing to the tranquil surroundings.
Lauren shielded her eyes from the sun as she turned to face him. ‘No, it definitely beats city living any day.’
‘Are you sure I can’t persuade you to have tea with me?’ he asked, his tone light and inviting. ‘I’ve just put a fresh pot on, and I’ve even got freshly baked scones.’
Lauren couldn’t help but laugh at his persistence. And she could do with a bit of human contact. ‘Okay, you’ve twisted my arm.’
She made her way around to Mark’s cottage, the interior mirroring her own in its rustic charm.
‘You made these yourself?’ Lauren asked, eyeing the scones appreciatively.
Mark laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. ‘I said I had freshly baked scones, not that I made them myself.’
‘Why do I get the feeling you’re a lawyer?’ Lauren teased.
‘Guilty as charged,’ Mark admitted with a grin. ‘I’m a divorce lawyer.’
‘Really?’ Lauren said, her stomach suddenly queasy.
‘Yes, really. I studied to be a defence lawyer, but it didn’t settle well with my conscience.’
‘Oh, right,’ Lauren said, thinking hard about what to say next. ‘Business busy?’
‘Oh yeah, more than ever,’ Mark said. ‘Seems like couples these days just don’t stick it out like they used to. One little problem, and they’re on dating apps looking for the next best thing. It’s a revolving door.’
Lauren mulled over his words. ‘Well, I mean, if someone’s unhappy . . .’
‘Sure, but here’s the thing,’ Mark said thoughtfully. ‘Nobody’s happy twenty-four-seven, not with their partner, not even with themselves, but with all the picture-perfect nonsense on social media, people start thinking their lives are lacking somehow.’
He launched into a story about an ex-client who’d got bored with her hardworking husband and fell for the glitz and glam, only to end up worse off after the divorce.
‘The grass isn’t always greener,’ Mark said, his eyes landing on Lauren’s wedding ring. ‘What about you? Happily married?’
Lauren froze, her first instinct to brush off the question with a lie, but she was so tired of pretending. Besides, for some reason, she felt comfortable speaking to Mark. She didn’t feel as if he would judge her.
‘No,’ she admitted, ‘but it’s not about wanting something better.’
‘Someone else?’ Mark asked, studying her face.
‘God, I must sound like such a cliché,’ Lauren said with a humourless laugh. ‘Am I that transparent?’
‘I can see it in your eyes,’ Mark said. ‘I’ve seen the same look hundreds of times before.’
‘Glad to know I’m not in the minority then.’
‘Far from it. So, are you planning on getting a divorce?’ Mark said it in such a way, Lauren didn’t know if he was asking in jest or being serious.
