The ending to 'What Happens in Ibiza' was never going to be the end of Vanessa's story and I thought one or two critics might pen alternatives to the one I always had in the back of my mind.
That didn't happen so here is my version of what happened after Ibiza.
I was unsure what category to put this in; erotic couplings, romance or loving wives, so I chose what I thought suited it best although I'm certain some will disagree.
I'm also sure some people will tell me how she deserves to be burnt at the stake or whatever but please remember it is only a story. It isn't real.
Comments and criticism that help me improve are always welcome but trolling stupid remarks will simply be deleted.
As always, enjoy.
What happened after Ibiza
Gently easing the baby off her milk laden breast Vanessa winced as the one-week-old reluctantly surrendered the sore chafed teat, making a mental note to cream them later.
It had been eight months since her husband Steve had walked out of the door and four since she had received her decree absolute to put an end to their marriage.
Taking a few minutes to wind and put a clean nappy on her new born daughter she sighed, she was finally ready to settle her down and take a few minutes to herself.
"Ssshhhh.... Time to sleep sweetie."
Vanessa cooed softly as she settled Megan in her Moses basket, pulling the covers up to keep her warm. Hoping that now she had been fed and changed she would sleep for a few hours and give her a break.
It had been that long since she had had her first two children, Kyle and Scarlet, that she had forgotten how exhausting it was caring for a new baby and Steve had been around to lend a hand back then. She was aware it had only been a few days and even though the little girl was an angel she was finding having a baby at her age incredibly draining.
Taking the opportunity of a few quiet hours to herself while her daughter was asleep, she headed out to the kitchen to make herself a sandwich and a cup of tea.
Settling herself on the sofa she swallowed a mouthful of her drink before letting her head fall back and, closing her eyes, wondering where the last year had gone.
++++++++++ 8
months earlier
++++++++++++++
It had been almost six weeks since they had returned from Ibiza when Steve came home hoping for a relaxing evening only to find his wife sitting at the table, an untouched glass of white wine in front of her.
She could tell from his expression that he had sensed that something wasn't quite right.
"Hey, what's up babe?" Even his tone betrayed his concern.
Looking up at him with red-rimmed eyes Vanessa had immediately burst into tears.
"I'm so sorry.... I didn't...."
"What is it? What's wrong?"
He had taken her in his arms then, holding her against him while she sobbed, her tears soaking his shirt.
Burying her face in his chest she had just kept repeating, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
Panicking he held her away from him at arms-length and, with his heart thumping wildly, he had looked her in her blue eyes.
"Are you leaving me Vani? Is that it? Did sleeping with Paulo make you realise you want more?"
She had shaken her head, "No, no, I love you... but... I didn't know.... I...."
"What is it Vanessa. Please... you're scaring me... tell me... what's wrong?"
The alarm in his expression was plain for her to see and she eventually managed to stop crying for a moment.
"I... I'm pregnant."
She clearly remembered whispering the fateful words as if it were only yesterday.
Steve had stared at her, obviously completely stunned, with his mouth hanging open.
"Say something Steve... please... I..." She started to panic as her husband took a moment to process her statement.
"Y... you're pregnant?" He had managed to stammer after almost a full minute.
She had started to cry softly and nodded, "Y... yes."
"How? I mean.... What...."
"If you don't know how after all these years then you've been missing something." She couldn't help but smile through her tears at his comment.
"Is it... is it Paulo's?"
A look of anger had flashed across her face, "Of course it is. What sort of slut do you take me for?"
"Well, Henry has been trying to get into your knickers for some time now so maybe..."
The crack of her hand against his cheek had echoed around the room.
"You fucking bastard." Vanessa had hissed, her face contorting in an angry snarl, "You gave me all the what happens in Ibiza shit and then you say something like that."
"Well, it didn't take much for you to drop your panties for Paulo so why not for Henry."
Suddenly all the anger and vitriol he had been bottling up since their holiday and her fling came pouring out.
"Now I think about it you were probably shagging him before we went away if the truth be known." Steve continued heatedly, "The way you hardly thought twice about the young Spaniard."
"You bastard. The whole Paulo thing was as much you as it was me."
She had gone to slap his face again when he had grabbed her wrist.
"I take it you're having an abortion?"
The colour drained from her face at his question, "You... you're not serious are you?"
His expression confirmed he had meant what he said but he continued regardless.
"Of course I'm fucking serious. You're up the fucking duff with another man's fucking child and it sounds like you're expecting me to be happy about it."
"No I'm not, but that's your answer, to murder it?" Vanessa said in total shock, staring at him and wondering if she ever really knew the man she married.
"Vani it's not mine. I had a vasectomy remember. Everyone knows and I'll just be a bloody laughing stock with our friends and family."
She realised she couldn't answer him, "But... we.... we could..."
"Could what? Move away? What about our children? Remember Kyle and Scarlet? How are you going to explain this to them?" Steve continued to rant at her.
Beaten she slumped onto the sofa, tears streaming down her cheeks again.
"Please Steve.... I can't do this alone."
"It's your choice, you either get rid of it or me."
She looked up at him, horrified at his ultimatum, "I... I can't murder a... my baby."
"Then I guess it's me that's going."
"What... you can't... what about us, what about the kids?"
"Enough Vani, this is your mess, you sort it out. I'm out of here."
"What.... What do you mean?" A sudden feeling of alarm surged through her and she stood up staring at him.
"I'm not staying here. I'm not some cuckold for everyone to laugh at. People will know the bastard isn't mine."
With that he had stormed out of the room and headed up the stairs leaving her to sit down heavily on the sofa, unable to comprehend what was happening in her life. Of all the reactions she had tried to think of her husband packing his bags and walking out had been at the end of the list.
She had expected him to be shocked, to be angry but to walk out on twenty-five years of marriage, that wasn't something she had anticipated. However, the things he had said and the way he had said them left her in no doubt he meant every word he had uttered.
Staring into space she was still sitting on the sofa when her husband returned with two holdalls filled with his things.
"I'll come back for the rest later." He stated flatly.
"You... you're really going?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I think it's for the best, for me anyway."
"What about the kids?"
"You can say what you want to them. I'll tell them the truth, so be warned."
Vanessa's shoulders slumped in defeat. There wasn't much she could say or do so she decided to do nothing, at least for the moment.
"Are you coming back?" She finally asked, her voice heavy with resignation, knowing what his answer would be.
"Nope. I'll contact a solicitor. I'll let you know who it is."
She stood up, completely numb, "I guess it's goodbye then?"
Steve snorted derisively and picked up his bags, "Yeah I guess so."
Slumping back onto the couch she heard the door close as her husband of twenty-five years walked out of her life.