The End of a Marriage (Colette and Matheo) novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Chapter 23

The night in Coffs Harbour was unlike any other Colette and Matt had shared in recent memory. In the small motel room, with its plain walls and single bed, they clung to each other under the thin duvet as if the world outside had ceased to exist. The warmth of his body against hers felt both comforting and foreign, a bittersweet reminder of what they once had. They gazed at each other with a tenderness that seemed to transcend words, speaking only through soft smiles and gentle touches.

As the night wore on, and Matt’s breathing became deep and steady with sleep, Colette remained awake, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t tried to make love to her, why he hadn’t bridged the physical gap that had grown between them over the past months. The answer seemed to land heavily on her chest: he was trying to make her happy. He had brought her on this trip, taken her to places that were meant to rekindle something lost between them. It was a bitter realization–sweetened only by the fact that, after so long. Matt was trying.

In the early hours of the morning, as the first rays of sunlight slipped through the thin curtains, Colette was roused by a flurry of kisses. Matt’s lips trailed from her face to her neck, and then lower, to places that sent a flush of warmth through her. She giggled, half–awake, half–dreaming, as his playful affection stirred something deep within her–a spark she thought had long since died. For those fleeting moments, it felt like the beginning of something new, a tentative rebirth of their connection.

They hit the road early, the crisp morning air whipping through the car windows as they drove towards the Gold Coast. The landscape shifted around them,

from the sleepy town of Coffs Harbour to the sun–soaked coastline of the Gold Coast. The drive was filled with laughter and light–hearted banter, a stark

contrast to the tension that had defined their relationship for so long. Lunch was a lavish affair at a high–end Italian café, where they shared plates of pasta

and sipped on wine, Matt’s hand resting on her knee under the table. For the first time in months, Colette allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe.

they could find their way back to each other.

As they pulled up to Matt’s mother’s house, Colette could feel the subtle shift in the atmosphere. The lightness that had filled the car during their drive

evaporated the moment they turned onto the familiar street. Matt’s face, which had been alight with laughter and warmth, hardened into an impassive mask.

The transformation was stark, like watching the sun suddenly disappear behind storm clouds, plunging everything into a cold, grey shadow.

Roxy’s husband was the first to greet them, opening the door with a wide, welcoming grin. “Well, look who’s here! Come on in, you two.” His voice was

cheerful, but Colette noticed the way Matt’s shoulders stiffened as he stepped over the threshold. The warmth in Matt’s eyes dimmed, replaced by a hollow

look she had seen too many times before.

Inside, the house was festooned with blue and yellow ribbons, balloons floating in every corner, the air thick with the scent of birthday cake. It was a celebration, yet the festive decorations only seemed to heighten Matt’s detachment. He offered a curt “Hello” to his mother and stepfather, his voice devoid of any real emotion. Colette watched him closely, her heart sinking at how quickly he had withdrawn from the world they had shared just moments ago.

Danny, Matt’s eleven–year–old half–brother, burst into the room with the unbridled enthusiasm only a child could muster. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he ran up to Matt, practically bouncing on his toes.

“Happy birthday, Danny,” Matt responded, his voice flat. But then, as if he couldn’t resist the boy’s infectious energy, he managed to dredge up a smile–a small, fleeting thing that barely touched his eyes. Colette noticed the effort it took, how strained and unnatural it seemed. She stepped in quickly, ruffling Danny’s hair with a genuine smile, trying to fill the gap Matt’s coldness had left. “We’ve got presents for the birthday boy,” she said, her voice light, hoping to salvage some of the joy for the child’s sake.

Matt handed over a neatly wrapped board game, his hands moving almost mechanically. “And there’s another one in the car,” he added, his tone so devoid of warmth it felt like an afterthought rather than a gift.

Little Danny’s excitement knew no bounds as he dashed around the house, his Superman cape billowing behind him like a banner of pure joy. His laughter echoed off the walls, a stark contrast to the tension that thickened the air. Colette watched him whirl past, a bittersweet smile on her face, knowing how this innocent happiness stood on the edge of a brewing storm.

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11:18 pm GP PP

Chapter 34

Roxy approached her son with measured steps, as if treading on thin ice. “How are you, Matt?” she asked, her voice tinged with both hope and trepidation.

Matt’s response was as cold and detached as ever. “Fine,” he muttered, not bothering to meet her eyes.

Undeterred, Roxy tried again, though her words came out with the hesitance of someone expecting to be struck down. “Everything good in business?*

The reaction was immediate. Matt’s eyes flashed with anger, and he shot his mother a scornful look. “If you want money, Ma, just come out and say it.”

Roxy’s face flushed red, her composure crumbling as she recoiled from the verbal blow. Tears shimmered in her eyes, barely held back by sheer will. But before she could respond, Roger, her husband, stepped in, his voice brimming with a quiet fury. “We don’t want or need your money. Your mother just

wanted a good relationship with you!”

But Matt wasn’t finished. His words, laced with bitterness, cut through the room like a blade. “That’s not what she said six months ago when the asked for

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