The Chateau. Karen Aldous

she’d ended the call before wrapping an arm around her.

      ‘Dad has walked out on Mum,’ she said, throwing her head back up. ‘I can’t believe it. He’s just packed his bag telling Mum he’s in love with someone else.’

      ‘Bloody hell!’ Max said, squeezing her close.

      ‘Fuck,’ Gina said wiping a tear from her cheek as the realisation hit. A flood of happy memories of the two of them gushed into her mind: the magic she’d once felt when her father drew her mother lovingly close and kissed her – it always wrapped a seal of comfort around her; the image of him trying to teach her mother to jump into the swimming pool in Italy one year. He’d picked her up and jumped in with her in the end and her mother actually began laughing once she’d got over the initial shock. They’d often been really sweet together. ‘I’ll need to go and book a flight and make calls and sort…’

      ‘Yes, yes. And call her back. Of course. If there’s anything I can do?’ Max offered. ‘Are you sure you’re OK? You look shocked yourself.’

      ‘I am. I mean, who’d have thought? It’s complete madness…I need to help Mum out. I don’t know how she’ll manage without him.’

      Collecting her things while wiping her nose, she turned to Max. ‘I’ll call you,’ she said before pecking him on the lips and turning to leave.

      On her return home, still dazed, she found the first available morning flight on the internet before calling Rebecca’s mobile, then her mother back. After an hour, she rang her father’s mobile. He wasn’t picking up. She packed her bags and left them by the front door. Her mind hazed. It kept drawing blanks as she asked herself over and over how this had all happened. She’d thought him distant, maybe upset at the wedding. Perhaps the wedding had finalised it all. Gina had so many questions as, she was sure, her mother had. It was two o’clock already; she had to be up again at four.

      Arriving the next morning at Geneva airport, Gina boarded the train to Montreux. Tiredness was sucking out her energy but worrying about her mother’s well being was keeping her awake.

      As the train began to border Lake Léman there was so much mist she couldn’t see much of Lake Léman nor the mountains, which was disappointing, but it was likely to burn off in an hour or two. It was brighter by the time Gina stepped off the train but she decided to take the road rather than the lake path. It wasn’t much quicker but the walk was what she needed after sitting down for hours. Once at her parents’ apartment, she let herself in and found her mother still in her dressing gown with red and puffy eyes. Gina rushed to her alarmed, throwing her arms around her. Her mother buried her head in her shoulders and began crying uncontrollably. Gina was unable to hold back either, letting her tears spill as she cradled Adrienne.

      ‘I couldn’t sleep,’ Adrienne told her several minutes later. ‘I don’t even know who this woman is but just the thought of your father…loving, touching someone else. Urrgh. It keeps turning my stomach.’

      Gina pulled a face. ‘I can imagine, Mum. Must be a real shock,’ she said stroking her mother’s hair. ‘It’s awful. Try not to torment yourself with those thoughts.’

      ‘I can’t help it. It still hasn’t really sunk in.’ Adrienne slumped away and into her armchair swiping a glance at George’s empty one. ‘I keep expecting him to walk back in the door.’

      Gina sat on the edge of the sofa facing her. ‘So what else did he say? I mean, do you know how long it’s been going on or how they met or why?’ Gina asked then walked to the kitchen area, reaching for the kettle and began getting the coffee cups prepared.

      Her mother shook her head. ‘I’ve no idea. I had no idea. Like I said on the phone, it came out of the blue. He just came out of the bedroom last night with his large brown holdall; I was at the sink just drying my hands. I’d just put the dinner on the table.’ She sniffed and swallowed hard. ‘Then, he said. “I’m sorry, Adrienne, but I’ve fallen in love with someone else and we’ve decided to move in together.” Just like that and then I said “What do you mean?” and he just carried on walking. At first I thought he might be joking, I don’t know why, but when he got to the door, I thought, he means this, he’s going. I asked him to explain but he said he couldn’t be any clearer and went.’

      Gina dashed to her mother as she broke down again. She held her shuddering body, allowing her to release her tears.

      ‘Oh, Mum, I don’t know what to say. I did try to ring him last night but he wasn’t answering.’ Rubbing her mother’s back she continued, ‘It’s really strange. I did think about ringing Aunt Bernie to ask if he’d spoken to her or gone to hers but I didn’t know whether you would want me to.’ Wiping her own eyes, she sat back. ‘I feel so useless.’

      ‘I know, I understand. I just don’t understand him though. Not a word.’

      ‘Presumably he’s taken his wallet and money, cards?’

      ‘Gosh, I’ve no idea. I hadn’t thought of that. He looks after all our money. He normally just leaves money out for me. What if…’

      Gina took her mother’s hands. ‘Don’t panic. I’m sure he wouldn’t leave you homeless or without money. I’ll try to get hold of him again. Let me make this coffee.’

      Now Gina was concerned. What if he had failed to provide? How would her mother cope? She’d never been self-reliant and, she imagined, she would struggle if her father didn’t pay the bills, although she was sure they’d paid cash for their apartment. That may be safe. Aunt Bernie was still the best person to ring but if her mother needed some time she had to respect that. She needed to ring her father. She rang his mobile again but still he didn’t answer. She texted him, urging him to call her. She finished the coffee and returned to her mother, still staring vacantly in her chair.

      ‘We’ll drink this and then you have a shower. That’ll make you feel a bit better at least,’ she told her mother handing her the hot mug.

      ‘I don’t feel like having a shower, Gina.’

      ‘I know but I think you should keep – ’ she stumbled on her words ‘ – to a routine. Keep yourself fed and watered and looking beautiful. You always look lovely.’

      ‘Didn’t do me much good, did it?’

      ‘Well, the way I see it is, if he walked back in here now and he saw you, he would think you could never manage without him. I personally, wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. If he’s been having an affair, he’s already betrayed you.’

      Adrienne scowled at Gina. ‘My husband of thirty-three years has just walked out, how do you expect me to look?’ She held her cheeks, her palm spreading across her face, trying to contain her sobs. ‘I’m not like you, Gina. He’s my life. I care about him and I’m hurt. I don’t care if he sees me like this.’

      ‘Oh sorry, Mum. That’s just me. I’ll shut up. I’m sorry, I’m still just so shocked, and I’m sure, like you, confused. I don’t know how I’d react in all honesty.’

      ‘I’m going back to bed,’ Adrienne said, lifting herself from the chair and shuffling off, hunched, to her bedroom.

      Cursing herself for upsetting her mother, Gina apologised again. ‘I’m so furious at him for hurting you like this.’

      ‘I’m tired. Maybe I’ll feel better after some sleep.’

      ‘You haven’t got any tablets or anything in there, have you? I mean, I don’t want to leave you alone…not in your state of mind,’ Gina said with panic in her voice.

      ‘No. But I wish I…never mind. I need to sleep.’

      As her mother closed the door, Gina paced. For the first time in her life she felt helpless. With her own relationship struggling too, she failed to reach any answers. It seemed men still ruled. Did what they wanted.

      What could she do? Respect her mother’s feelings and help her cope, she supposed. Looking through