The door creaked open, and his ex-wife stepped inside, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. «You dont get to decide where my son lives,» she snapped, her voice sharp as broken glass.
«Daddy, when is Mummy coming?» asked James, setting aside his maths workbook.
William Carter glanced up from his newspaper, studying his son. At eight years old, the boy already carried a weight in his eyessomething too heavy for a child.
«I dont know, mate. She said shed come this weekend, but its only Wednesday.»
«But will she really come? Last time she promised, then she rang and said she had important things to do.»
William exhaled. How could he explain that his ex now lived in another city with another man, that James had become an obligation rather than a joy? Once a month, shed breeze in with a toy, take him to a café, then vanish again.
«Shell come, Jamie. She will.»
«Okay,» the boy murmured, picking up his textbook again. «Can I watch telly tonight?»
«Finish your homework first.»
William tried to read the paper, but the words blurred. Three years since the divorce, and his life still felt like a treadmillwork, home, James, repeat. His mates told him to find a woman, move on, but how could he when his son spent every evening waiting for a mother who barely showed up?
Outside, the sky darkened as James finally closed his books.
«Dad, whatre we having for dinner tomorrow?»
«Pasta with meatballs. You like that.»
«Yeah,» James grinned. «And salad?»
«And salad. Cucumber and tomato.»
They moved to the kitchen, William pulling ingredients from the fridge while James swung his legs on a stool, chatting about school.
«Tommy Harris fell in PE today and scraped his knee. There was blood! The teacher took him to the nurse.»
«Nothing serious, I hope?»
«Nah, just a plaster. Dad why do Tommys parents always come to meetings together, but youre always alone?»
William froze, the knife hovering over the half-sliced cucumber.
«Well Mum and I have different jobs, different schedules.»
«Oh,» James nodded, unconvinced.
After dinner, James brushed his teeth obediently while William tidied up, brewing himself tea. The flat was quiet, the telly murmuring faintly in the background.
The next day at work, his colleague Mark brought it up again.
«Will, mate, youve got to let it go. She walked away! Turning up once a month doesnt make her a mother. James loves youthats what matters.»
«You dont get it. Theres no time for anything else. School runs, homework, dinner, bedtime stories. Weekends are laundry, shopping, cleaning.»
«Then find a woman wholl help! A proper one, kind. James could use a stepmum.»
«And if he doesnt like her? If his mum comes back and kicks off?»
«Shes not coming back,» Mark scoffed. «If she wanted to, shed be here.»
William stayed silent. Deep down, he knew his friend was rightbut admitting it hurt too much.
That evening, as James did his homework, the doorbell rang. William checked the peepholeand froze.
Emily, his ex-wife, stood on the doorstep.
He opened the door.
«Hi,» she said. «Can I come in?»
«Course. James! Mummys here!»
The boy sprinted from his room, flinging himself at her. Emily hugged him awkwardly, as if shed forgotten how.
«Youve got so tall!»
«Mum, are you staying long? Did you bring me a present?»
«Of course. But first, I need to talk to Dad.»
James nodded and vanished into his room. Emily sat on the sofa while William lingered, tense.
«Tea?»
«Please.»
He busied himself in the kitchen, hands steady despite the storm inside. When he returned, Emily looked polishednew haircut, designer clothes, nails done. Life in the city had treated her well.
«Howve you been?» he asked.
«Good. The jobs great, pays well. You?»
«Fine. James is doing well in school.»
She hesitated, then straightened.
«Will, I came to say something. David and I are getting married.»
«Congratulations.»
«And I want James to live with me.»
The world tilted. Williams grip on his cup tightened.
«What?»
«I want him with me. Ive got stability now, a good job, Davids fine with it. But you? Always at work, leaving him alone»
«Emily, are you mad? His school, his friendstheyre here! And since when have you»
«Since when what? I was young, scared! Now Im ready.»
«Have you asked James what he wants?»
«Hes a child. He doesnt know whats best. I can give him more.»
William stood, pacing. «Three years, Emily. Three years youve barely been here. Now you want to play mum?»
«I have rights! Im his mother!»
«Mother?» He barely kept his voice down. «A mother stays up when hes sick. Helps with homework, takes him to the doctor. Whatve you done?»
«I was working! Building a life!»
«While I built his!»
«Keep your voice down!» she hissed.
James footsteps padded down the hall. «Mum, can we go out? The cinema?»
Emily forced a smile. «Soon, love. Dad and I need to talk a bit more.»
When he left, she turned back, steel in her voice.
«Ive made up my mind. Ill go to court if I have to. Ive got the money, the stability. What do you have?»
«My sons love. What do you have?»
She stood, clutching her bag. «Think it over. If you say no, Ill fight you.»
«You dont get to decide where my son lives,» William said, low and firm.
«Hes my son too!»
«Then act like it.»
She called James for a goodbye, hugging him stiffly.
«Mum, will I see you tomorrow?»
«Of course, darling.»
When the door shut, James looked up, confused. «Dad, were you arguing?»
«No, lad. Just grown-up stuff.»
«She seemed upset.»
William pulled him close. «Jamie would you want to live with Mum?»
James frowned. «Where does she live?»
«Far away. A different city.»
«What about school? And Tommy? And Gran?»
«New school. New friends.»
James shook his head. «No. I want to stay with you. Maybe visit Mum.»
«Alright, son. Alright.»
That night, William lay awake, dreading the next day. What if she took him to court? Could he afford a solicitor?
At breakfast, James hesitated. «Dad if Mum takes me, will you be sad?»
William crouched to his eye level. «No ones taking you. Were family, yeah?»
James nodded. «What about Mum?»
«Shes family too. Just not here.»
At school, William lingered, speaking to the teacher. James was doing well, she saidbright, well-behaved, though sometimes quiet.
«Probably misses his mum,» she offered gently.
William only nodded.
That evening, Emily returned, her smile tight. James ran to her, but she nudged him away.
«Go to your room, love. We need to talk.»
When they were alone, she cut straight to it.
«Well?»
«He stays with me.»
«Will, be reasonable! I can give him more!»
«More love?»
«Yes!»
«Then why wait three years?»
She faltered. «II dont know. Maybe Im scared Ill fail.»
William called James back.
«Your mum wants you to live with her. What do you think?»
James studied them both. «Would Dad be there?»
«No,» Emily said quickly. «But its a lovely house»
«Do you know how to make pancakes?» James interrupted. «Or fix my bike?»
She blinked. «Id learn.»
«I want to stay with Dad.»
Emilys face crumpled. «Youve turned him against me!»
«No!» James insisted. «Dad never said anything bad! Just that youre busy.»
Tears spilled over. «I thought hed want to be with me.»
«Do you want him?» William asked quietly. «Or does David just want a ready-made family?»
She broke then, sobbing into her hands. «I dont know. I dont know.»
James hugged her. «I love you, Mum. But I want to stay here.»
In the end, she left with a promise to visit more, to call.
A week later, she phoned James for half an hour, asking about school, his friends. Shed visit soon, she said.
And a month after that, William met a woman in the parkAnna, divorced, with a daughter James age. The kids played, laughing on the swings.
On the walk home, James grinned. «Dad, Annas nice. Sos Lily.»
«Yeah,» William agreed.
«Can we see them again?»
«We can.»
And for the first time in years, William let himself hope. Life went on. And maybe, just maybe, happiness wasnt out of reachfor both of them.
