Doctor’s Office (abridged version)

‘It happened last Tuesday lunchtime,’ Su began. ‘We were out with some friends. Seraphe was all loved up, couldn’t stop talking about the new beau in her life. After the meal, Seraphe pulled out her phone to show us pictures. Of course, I recognised him immediately. And that’s when Ida exploded.’

‘Damn straight,’ Ida said.

‘We should have gathered more information. For Martha’s sake, we could have approached Arthur directly and asked for an explanation.’

‘Do you really believe the lying toerag would have said anything truthful?’

‘He may have. But you didn’t give him a chance.’

‘A chance for what? To hurt Martha some more? To cheat on Seraphe as well?’

‘Under the right conditions, I honestly believe that Arthur would have come clean and learned from his error.’

‘You are so naïve.’

‘No, I’m not. I agree that the relationship between Martha and Arthur had to end. But we could have taught him a valuable lesson to make sure he didn’t emotionally abuse the next woman he gets involved with.’

‘Oh, I taught him a lesson, alright,’ Ida said with an evil pride.

Su tutted as she shook her head.

‘Su, you may not know this, but I actually resisted the urge to smash Seraphe in the face right then and there.’

‘And what good would that have done?’ Su asked, obviously not impressed by Ida’s apparent self-control.

‘It would have pleased Martha.’

‘Not in the long run.’

‘No, but in that moment Martha would have felt the sweet taste of vengeance.’

‘And what power moved you to not act impulsively?’ Su’s tone was sarcastic.

Ida couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she said, ‘Because I realised a better revenge would be to burn them together in her whoring bed.’