Henry tramped into the kitchen without a word.
His dad tried to take charge. 'This would be better if your sister was here, but we thought it best to have a talk as soon as possible. We can fill in Aisling when she gets back at the weekend.'
Welcome home, Aisling. Your mother's run off with my secretary and I've booked my passage to Australia. They really should change the wording on the mat.
'Do you want to sit down, Henry? Will I get you tea or something?'
His mother cut in tiredly, 'Don't waffle, Tim.' To Henry she said, 'I understand you've been talking to your father?'
Henry nodded and walked over to the fridge. There was half an apple inside, neatly sliced on a small plate. He bit into it and it tasted like sawdust. He went to the table and sat down, staring at them both with large eyes. At least he didn't think he'd blubber now. He was all cried out.
'I suppose the first thing I want to say is this has got nothing to do with you or Aisling, Henry,' his mother said. 'I mean, it obviously concerns you, but I want you to know you're not…' She gave a stiff little shake of her head. '… you know, to blame or anything like that.' She actually tried to smile.
She'd been reading her psychology books. Parents divorce, children get it in their head they're somehow to blame. Years later they're spilling it all out to some shrink. Henry said, 'I don't think anybody's to blame.' And surprised himself. It sounded far more grown-up than he felt.
His mother blinked. 'Well, no. No, of course not. I just wanted to make sure you…' She let it trail.
Poor old Dad stuck his oar in again. He wasn't really a match for Mum, but he was a fairly big deal executive after all, so he wasn't exactly a wimp. He said, 'The thing is, Henry, something like this changes things. That's inevitable, whatever people want – '
Henry's mother said quietly, 'You agreed to let me handle this.'
With just a flash of anger, Henry's dad said, 'I was only trying to reassure him – ' But he let it go.
Henry's mother said, 'Your father told me about his conversation with you this morning and we've been discussing the situation. Trying to decide what to do, really. He's been – ' She looked embarrassed and a little green. 'He's been very understanding.' She dropped her eyes. 'Probably more than I deserve.' After a moment she looked up at Henry and said in an explosive breath, 'We've been talking most of the day and we realise we're not the only ones involved in this. There's Aisling. And there's you. I mentioned Aisling first because she's younger and less likely to understand. You're older, so… Anyway, the point is that neither your father nor I can just think of ourselves and what we want. We, ah, have to consider what's best for Aisling and you. And ourselves too, of course.'
Henry's mind wouldn't function. He could usually second-guess his parents by a mile. Now he'd no idea whether his mother was trying to prepare him for the divorce court or the firing squad.
'What I want to tell you,' his mother said. 'What I want to tell you is that we've talked this through from every viewpoint and I suppose the first thing to say is that we're not going to get a divorce. We don't think that would be fair on either of you.' She licked her lips. 'But we are going to separate.' She stared at Henry, obviously trying to gauge his reaction. After a moment she said, 'You needn't worry – nothing's going to happen right away. It'll take several weeks, maybe a month or so, to get everything organised. And we won't be separating completely. We'll get together from time to time, like family, so it'll seem more like, you know, long holidays, trips abroad, that sort of thing.' She wound to a halt, still staring at him.
'Who gets the house?' Henry asked dully.
Henry's mother glanced across at his father, who said nothing. His mother said, 'We thought it would be easier if your father moved out.' She waited for Henry to react and when he didn't she said almost eagerly, 'It's logical really. He can find somewhere nearer his work.' She forced a smile. 'You know how often he has to sleep at the office – it'll really be much easier for him.'
Henry stared at her. She actually believed it.
His mother said, 'This house is nearer the school.' She meant her school, where she taught.
'Who gets the kids?' Henry asked.
'Don't put it like that!' his mother pleaded. 'It's not like we're splitting up the family.'
'How else should I put it?' He felt numb inside, as if he didn't really care any more. He just wanted to know what was going to happen.
His mother sighed. 'We thought it would be less of a disruption if you and Aisling stayed here. With me. You wouldn't have to relocate, or make new friends or change schools or anything. Everything would just… you know, go on as before. Your father would visit -visit often.' She forced the smile again. 'You might even see him more often than you do now, with everything that's been going on at the office.'
Bad choice of phrase, Mum, Henry thought. Aloud he said, 'Will Anais be coming here?'
His mother hesitated and looked at his father again. She licked her lips nervously. 'Eventually… and obviously only if it's all right with you and Aisling… I would, ah, hope Anais might… visit, maybe even stay over sometimes. Just to see how we all get along.' Since she couldn't look him in the eye, she looked out through the window and added, 'Long term, who knows.'
'So long term Anais might move in?' Henry said.
'It's possible,' his mother admitted. 'But only if you and Aisling were happy about it.' She was watching him again, still hoping for a reaction. After a moment she said, 'Might be fun, Henry. Sort of like having two mothers.' She blinked. 'You like Anais.'
Sure he liked Anais. What wasn't there to like? But two mums? No thank you. He was having enough problems with one. To his father he said, 'All this OK with you, Dad?'
'I don't like it,' his father said, 'but it seems the fairest way.'
Fairest? His mum has the affair so she takes the house and the kids and kicks Dad out to find another place. Then she moves her lover in. If she'd convinced Dad that was fair, she should be selling used cars.
'How do you feel about it, darling?' his mother asked.
Henry shrugged. She didn't care what he was feeling. Why should he get into it? 'It's what you and Dad have agreed.' He stood up.
'Where are you going?' his mother asked at once.
Henry stared at her numbly. 'To see Charlie,' he said. 'Mrs Severs is expecting me for tea.'
His parents looked at one another as he headed for the door. 'You won't discuss any of this with Charlie, will you?' his mother called after him.
'She's what? asked Charlie when he discussed it with her.
'Dad has this secretary called Anais. Mum's having an affair with her.'
'Your mum's, like, gay?'
Henry nodded.
'Wow!' said Charlie. 'Cool!'
The rain had proved to be a passing shower, so they were together in the Severs's garden. Mrs Severs, who had the idea children never grew up, served them a tea of sausages, crisps, popcorn, jelly and a garishly pink cake, then left them to their own devices. The remnants were scattered across the garden table, along with two empty lemonade bottles. Henry had been surprised by the extent of his appetite. He hated what was happening, but now he knew the worst, he had the weirdest feeling of relief.
'You think it's cool my mum's a lesbian?'
'Sure. Don't you?'
'Never really thought about it like that.'
'I have,' Charlie said. The gay thing, I mean – not your mum. The girls talk about it a lot at school.'
'Do they?' Henry asked, surprised.
'Yes, of course.' She cast an overtly innocent glance towards the sky. 'Some have even… dabbled.'
'The girls at your school?'
'Yes.'
'With each other?'
'Of course with each other – that's the whole point! It's supposed to be a phase you go through.'