I was eighteen when Mike married my Aunty Jo. I was twenty-one when she left him for another man.
Aunty Jo was thirty-two when she married Mike and he was only twenty-six, so we teased her about her toy boy. I even called her Aunty Cougar for a while until Mike asked me not to.
Aunty Jo was my Mum's younger sister. There was a significant age gap between them and they couldn't have been more different. My grandparents hadn't had a lot of money when Mum was born. They waited to have another baby till they were better off financially, hence the big age gap between the two sisters.
Gran and Gramps were so thrilled with a new baby after all those years that Jo was very indulged. She had all the things they couldn't afford when Mum was younger. For some reason, they didn't seem to think that this was unfair as Mum would have had them too if they'd had the money back then. So, Aunty Jo had dance lessons, horse riding lessons, swimming lessons and a new tennis racket. Mum often referred to the new tennis racket as a cause of discontent.
The odd thing was, despite Jo's fancy lessons, it was Mum who had ability in all these areas. She was the star of the school swimming gala despite only learning to swim during her school lessons. She was a natural dancer. When, as a late teen, she took up ballroom dancing, she excelled quickly and that's when she partnered up with my Dad. They were soon together on and off the dance floor. More recently, she started horse riding lessons and of course, was a natural. She never bothered with tennis. However, I did once find a beautiful tennis outfit in her wardrobe. It had a very tiny skirt and a brand-new racquet. She couldn't meet my gaze when I asked her about it one breakfast time, but Dad definitely blushed.
My Mum and Dad were so in love and loyal to each other. That's what I wanted too. In contrast, Auntie Jo was flighty. When I was younger, I heard Dad call Auntie Jo at tart in the kitchen. He was mad that she seemed to be working her way through their male friends and acquaintances.
"It's getting embarrassing, Sue. She'll sleep with anything. Even the gnome in next door's garden is starting to look worried."
Mum just laughed, "Well, she's ruined, Nick. Mum and Dad completely spoiled her. Just be grateful you got the good daughter."
"Oh yes, you're very good," said Dad. I left then as I heard giggles and kissing. I wish they wouldn't do that when I'm in the house.
When Jo met Mike, everything changed. He was tall, with dark hair and broad shoulders. I thought he was gorgeous. Even more so because he seemed completely oblivious to it, he was quiet and shy. I thought he was wonderful. I had a huge teenage crush on him. If I could have had his poster on my wall, I would. He always looked good. If he was casual in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, they fitted him to perfection. He wore a suit for work. OMG, that man could wear a suit.
I never called him Uncle Mike unless I was teasing him. I used to wish he had a younger brother just like him. Sadly, he only had a younger sister. Perhaps that's why I used to love talking to him. He was used to talking to teenage girls and was always interested in my opinions. Even though I was only eighteen, he spoke to me like an equal. All eighteen-year-olds think they're grown-ups, don't they? He talked to me like another adult and I loved him for that. He was so excited for me when I was about to start university. He had wanted to go to university himself, but his Dad died and he had to carry on the family business with his Mum. He also helped his Mum look after his sister. Consequently, he was pleased for me to have the chance.
Mum and Dad worried about how he'd cope with the wild side of Aunty Jo. He was a kind, quiet gentleman. Dad was worried that she'd walk all over him and break him. It turned out he was right.
I was at home that summer, the summer I turned twenty-one. My summer job was working at Uncle Mike's family business. I was the receptionist and did basic office work to fill in for the regular workers. This allowed them to have time off with their children during the long summer holidays. That was Mike's idea. That was the type of bloke he was. Consequently, all his employees loved him. So did I, but then I always had. I got to see him every day in his suit and tie. God, he was lovely.
I wasn't a virgin. One of the rugby players at uni had taken my cherry. He was broad and dark; I must confess he reminded me of a certain uncle. We went out for a few months in the first year until I realised that he might look like Mike, but instead of being kind and considerate, he was a total idiot, particularly when he was with his rugger mates.
Mike had once again become the star of all my sexual fantasies. When he reached over his desk to get something, I swear the sight of his trousers stretched over his bottom made me wet. I must have been flushed as Pam Woodworth, an older colleague in her late fifties, smiled and said,
"Yes, he has that effect on me too sometimes, and I am a dried-up old married lady pushing sixty. Mr Woodworth might be getting a little treat tonight on the strength of that!"
I just looked shocked but smiled at her. Hoping it wasn't as apparent to everyone else how I felt.
It all came to a head when I heard Mum talking on the phone one Friday night.
"You've done what? You selfish little tart. You left a note! While I hope that works out for you and you get all you deserve, heartbreak and nothing more, you dirty bitch. I am ashamed to call you my sister."
When I entered the kitchen, she was holding onto the work surface, trying to regain her breath.
"Well, what is it? What's she done?" I asked.
"She's only left, Mike. She's off on holiday to Spain with her new boyfriend, some idiot she works with. They've been at it for months. He's left his wife for her. They think they're soulmates, perfect for each other. Two cheats together. She'll be sleeping with a waiter before the end of the first week is up."
"It's poor Mike I feel sorry for," Dad said. "I'm going to miss him. He's been a great brother-in-law. I won't even speak to her now or her new lover, victim, whatever you want to call him."
"Well, Mike will still be a member of the family. We'll see that won't change." I countered.
Dad just smiled, "Amy, it doesn't work like that. As much as we like him, he won't want anything to do with us; we're just a constant reminder of the silly tart he married--a reminder of his mistake. We've seen it all before in the dancing world, all pals together, going out as a foursome and then splitting up with each other and with you. You're a reminder of what once was."
"We will not be losing Mike," I said, "I'll make sure of that. I'll make sure that he's still part of this family."
With that. I grabbed my jacket and my keys.
As I was racing out the door, I heard Dad say, "How's she going to manage that, then?"
"I couldn't begin to imagine," Mum snorted.
When I got to Mike's house, everything was quiet. I found him in the kitchen, staring into space. He had an open bottle of Scotch on the table alongside the letter from Aunty Jo. He was in his shirt sleeves, his tie askew. His hair was sticking on end like he'd been pulling at it. My heart broke for him. I didn't even say anything. I ran to him, sat on his knee and threw my arms around his neck. He cried on my shoulder. That beautiful, lovely man cried, and it broke my heart.
"Why Amy? Why would she do this? Six months they've been at it. His poor wife, they've just had a baby, you know? I thought Jo was happy. What's wrong with me?"
