Turning Leaves — Pamela Oldfield

Leaves turn as winter arrives, but when when winter turns into spring, it's time, perhaps, to turn over a new leaf . . .
George Duke's retirement had turned into a living nightmare. Every waking moment was being minutely controlled by his wife Marie. He'd now pretty much exhausted his excuses for not going shopping with her, so one morning he told her the truth: he didn't want to go. Bravely, she went to the department store on her own, and returned triumphant. She taunted George with the mink coat she'd splashed out on it was absurdly expensive, not to mention the wrong size. Well, she couldn't be trusted to shop on her own, could she? He'd just have to take it back for her . . .
As George starts to consider how he could put an end to his marriage, Ann finds that Edmund has already terminated theirs. The wedding of their son the previous day had left Ann luxuriating in the satisfaction of a mother's job well done. But little had she realized just how over that stage of her life now was.
As marriages head for meltdown, tragedy follows. New leaves are turned. People are surprised especially by themselves.