**Revenge**
«Listen, Lizzie, I promised a colleague Id help them move house.»
«Today?» Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
«Theyve just bought a two-bed flat. His wifes about to give birth.»
«And last Saturday, you were celebrating someones new car. All your colleagues seem so successful. Meanwhile, weve got neither a new car nor a bigger place. Why is that, James?»
«Dont nag, Lizzie. I promise well spend next weekend together.» James pulled her close, searching her eyes.
«Hard to believe. Every weekend, theres some *unforeseen circumstance*.» She pushed him away.
«Fine, want me to call and cancel?» He scowled.
«No. You promisedso go.»
James brightened instantly.
«Youre a gem, Lizzie. So, Ill head off?» He leaned in for a kiss, but she pressed a hand to his chest, holding him at bay.
«Just dont forget your promise about next weekend,» she said.
***
Theyd met at universityall three of them. As often happens, Elizabeth had fancied James, while Daniel had fancied her. They attended lectures together, went to the cinema, the boys walked her home. One evening, Daniel confessed.
«Sorry, but its James I like,» she admitted.
«Cant force the heart,» Daniel sighed.
After that, he stopped sitting with them in lectures, stopped walking her home. If they met at a café, hed leave quickly.
James had a small flat, inherited from his grandfather. The whole group would gather there. Elizabeth visited often, but never stayed the night, no matter how James pleaded. Until New Years Eve. After that, they moved in together.
Daniel rarely visitedhe couldnt bear seeing his rivals happiness, even if James was his friend.
«Whens the wedding?» he asked at their graduation celebration.
«Were fine as we are, right, Lizzie?» James answered for both of them.
Elizabeth lowered her gaze and stayed silent.
«Youre wrong. Every woman dreams of a wedding and a white dress. Lizzie, dump himmarry me,» Daniel blurted.
James shot him a dark look.
«Actually, Ive been meaning to proposejust waiting for the right moment.» James pulled a ring from his pocket. «Will you marry me?» His gaze bored into her.
Elizabeth flushed with joy.
«Of course,» she said, not noticing Daniel stand and leave.
Two months later, Daniel was their best man.
«Lizzie, if he ever hurts you, tell me,» he said at the reception.
«And when are *you* getting married?» she teased.
«Oh, hes waiting for us to divorce,» James laughed. «Keep dreaming.» He flashed Daniel a triumphant look.
«Enough,» Elizabeth cut in. «Lets dance.» She tugged James from the table.
Three months into their marriage, Daniel arrived on Elizabeths birthday with a bouquet of crimson roses. After the guests left, James fumed, accusing her of overreacting to the gift. Everyone had noticedit humiliated him.
«Dont be jealous. I only love you,» she said.
«Hope so,» James muttered.
Three years passed. They were happy, but fights crept inalways over Jamess jealousy. He seethed if men so much as glanced at Elizabeth. He wanted her pregnant, at home.
But Elizabeth wanted work experience first. Lately, though, James had been acting odd. Weekends were excuses to vanish. If he stayed, he was irritable, bored, picking fights.
«Daniel, is James seeing someone?» she asked one day.
«Lizzie, he loves you,» Daniel saidbut his eyes flickered away.
«Youre a terrible liar,» she smirked.
***
Now James had fled again. Elizabeth sighed and cleaned. When the flat gleamed and laundry dried on the balcony, the doorbell rang. She thought it might be Jamesbut he had a key.
Opening the door, she found Daniel.
«You? Wheres James?» she demanded.
«Hes not here?» Daniel countered. «Mind if I come in? Waitwhere is he?»
«Fine, come in. Tea? Hes helping someone move.»
«Right. Forgot.» Daniel smacked his forehead. Elizabeth eyed him but stayed silent.
They drank tea in heavy silence.
«Lizzie I still fancy you,» Daniel finally said.
«I thought youd moved on.»
«Just wanted you to know.»
«I know, Daniel.»
«Theres something else.» He sipped, avoiding her gaze.
«Should I be worried?»
«James thinks youre cheating. That youve got someone,» he blurted.
«Let me guesshe asked you to test me?» She gave a bitter laugh. «Theres no one. You *said* I love him.»
«He wanted me to flirt with you. You know, to» He flushed.
«Youre joking.»
«He asked me to seduce you.»
«A *test*?» Elizabeths voice sharpened.
«Basically. I refusedbut you know him. If hes set on something Better me than a stranger. He told me not to tell you.»
«Seriously? You knew hed be outso you came?»
«Lizzie, I agreed to come, nothing else. Thats why Im telling you.» He wiped sweat from his brow.
«Its disgusting. Id expect this from James, not you. Know what they saypeople accuse others of what *theyre* guilty of. Is he seeing someone?»
«I dont know.» Daniel stood, grabbing a towel to dab his face. Before he could sit, Elizabeth cut in.
«You should go.»
«Right. Lizzie, Im here if you»
«*Leave*.»
Alone, she seethed. Testing her? Using *Daniel*? Or was *he* lying to split them? But why confess? Her mind raced, but answers wouldnt come. Resentment swelledwhy *shouldnt* she suspect James? Where was he? Vanishing weekends, late nights
Shed wait. Stay calm. Plan.
When James returned, she served dinner. He didnt look tiredquite the opposite.
«All moved in?» she asked lightly.
«Mm.»
«No celebratory drink?»
«His wifes pregnant, like I said.»
«Mustve been fartook all day.»
«Had to assemble furniture.» James kept his eyes on his plate.
«Daniel dropped by. Why didnt you ask him to help?»
«Said he was busy. Whyd he come?» James finally looked up.
Elizabeth shrugged. «Just chatted, had tea.» She watched him closely.
«Im knackered. Off to shower.» James stood.
Days passed before she settled on revenge. If hed test her, shed test *him*. At work was Evabold, free-spirited, no moral qualms. Over coffee, Elizabeth outlined her plan.
«Youre not scared Ill *actually* seduce him?» Eva teased.
«Thats why I asked *you*. Just a staged kissenough for me to catch you.»
Eva smirked. «He any good?»
«Decent. Saturday, hell be home. Ill say a friend needs babysitting. You arrive, say youll wait for me then improvise.»
«Sure you wont regret it?»
Elizabeth hesitated. «Well?»
***
Tired of doubt, she clung to anger. How *dare* he suspect her? Sending *Daniel*? Let him prove *he* could resist temptation.
James grumbled when she announced her Saturday errand.
«A colleagues dropping off documentswait for her, please,» she said, ensuring he wouldnt flee.
She shopped, phone off, guilt gnawing. What was happening at home? Revenge felt petty now. Weak. Daniel had been honestbut Eva? What did she *really* know? Provoking James was vile. She shouldve just *talked*
She sprinted home, breathless, cursing herself. Bursting in, she froze.
On the sofa, the couple jerked apartbut not fast enough.
«Lizzie?!» James scrambled up, dishevelled.
«Whod you expect?»
Eva stood, smoothing her dress, running a hand through her hair before strolling past Elizabeth and out. The door slammed.
«Lizzie, its not what»
«Oh? What *is* it? With *my* friend, on *our* sofa Glad I interrupted.»
«SheIm only human»
«Spare me. Were even now. I see I cant trust you. Kidsll tie *me* downwhile you help move furniture? Or is it Eva now? And *Daniel*? Disgusting. Im done.»
«He *told* you? That snake»
«Hes *my* friend too.»
«Lizzie, it was just»
«Just *what*? If Id been later, would youve slept with her? Here?»
«Lizzie, please»
«Stop. No more games. What now? Suspicion forever? No kidsdivorcell be quick. The flats yours. Ill leave.» Her voice cracked.
«To *Daniel*?» James snapped.
«You *idiot*.» She glared.
She fled to her parents. «Were divorcing. Ill stay till I find a flat,» she said wearily.
«You rushed inshouldve married first,» her mother sighed.
«Dont rent. Weve savingsenough for a one-bed,» her father grunted.
«Dad, no.»
«Just *listen* for once,» he barked.
She relented.
Rainy autumn faded to winter. New Years Eve, she resolved to be alone. A week after she left, James moved another woman incouldnt even wait for the divorce. Proof hed cheated long before.
Miserable, she planned to toast at midnight, then sleep. The doorbell rangparents, surely? But it was Daniel, holding a small, tinsel-draped tree.
«Knew youd be alone.»
«Howd you find me?» She nearly hugged him.
They set the tree by the champagne, clinking glasses at midnight.
«Guess your wish,» she said.
«Same as yours,» he smiled.
They laughedlight, easy.
A year later, they married. Nine months after, twins arrivedtwo girls. Happiness, served full measure.
Sometimes revenge worksit clears the air.
