What are you doing back here? Poppy asked warily, hands on the kitchen counter.
Im back, as you can see, Victor smiled, gesturing at the two duffel bags hed hauled in.
Since when? Poppy tilted her head. Its been six months.
Poppy, I cant just stand by, Victor sighed heavily. The moment I thought Id left you, my heart tore apart. I felt like Id been ripped in two!
Ripped? Poppy repeated, eyebrows raised.
At least I wont have to pretend in front of everyone that my leaving meant nothing and youre doing just fine without me, Victor quipped. I get you, its hardbeing alone with a kid!
Poppy gave a thoughtful hum.
Did you change the lock? Victor jingled a bunch of keys. Probably busted it, thats your proof. I didnt oil it in time, so it gave out!
She fell silent, unsure how to answer. The elevator dings, doors sliding open on the landing.
Dad? Sam called, looking lost.
Yes, son! Victor dropped to his knees, arms wide. Im moving back in! Come here, Ill give you a hug!
Sam hesitated, glanced at his mum, who gave a small nod.
Alright, Poppy said, come in, lets see what youve brought.
Victor entered the flat like an owner, but shuffled to the kitchen like a guest.
A new key rack and a sleek shoe cabinet now stood in the hallway. The light fixture had been swapped, and the interior doors were fresh paint.
As Poppy trailed behind him into the bathroom, she flicked a switch.
Whats that? Victor asked.
You remember how damp it used to be in here? Poppy replied. I installed an extractor so I dont have to keep the door ajar.
Twenty minutes or so never mind! she waved it off. Tea or coffee?
Coffee, please, Victor said, perching on a new stool.
Poppy grabbed a capsule from the jar, dropped it into the coffee machine, and pressed the button.
Just a minute while I change, she said with a smile.
No problem, Victor replied, giving a restrained wave.
The kitchen now boasted a different set of pots, a tiled backsplash instead of the old adhesive film Victor had once stuck up, and new towel hooks by the sink.
When Poppy returned in her old tracksuitshed usually lounge in a robeVictors mood had shifted from the one hed arrived with.
Whats this fellow youve brought home? Victor snapped.
Who? Poppy asked, taken aback.
Whos the man youve brought in to raise my son? I should know whos looking after my boy! And, by the way, were not divorced yet!
Just have a coffee, Poppy said, smirking.
Its you Im looking at! Victor shouted. I felt sorry for you, came back, and now youre doing what? With a live husband? Poppy!
Drink your coffee, he ordered.
Ill pour this coffee over your head if you dont stop! Victor leapt up. Whats happening here? I demand answers!
Six months earlier Poppy had declared her life over. Shed been stunned beyond words.
Poppy, I think our marriage has run its course, Victor had said. Theres no longer any feeling or warmth left.
Whats left that tied us together? shed whispered. Living together just for Sam feels like a massive sacrifice.
Divorce? she asked, voice trembling.
Lets not rush, Victor replied. I could be wrongmaybe terribly wrong. Lets live apart for now, no formal divorce. If you need anything, just call. But please, no endless emails. I might already have a new life waiting.
Hed then dropped the financial talk.
Dont go through the official childsupport paperwork; the bureaucracys a nightmare. Youll get no more than £150 a month.
Ill give you that for the next month, then Ill send whatever comes in as my salary. Everyones an adult, we both have to support ourselves.
Ill still pay my share for Sam, so dont take it personally.
Poppy felt as if shed been left floating between heaven and earth. Nine years of what she thought was a happy marriage shattered in a heartbeat.
She couldnt recall any warning signs. Everything had seemed fine.
Why had she decided her life was over? Because, aside from the marriage, shed never really built an independent adult life. Her whole world had revolved around Victors planswaiting for her degree, the wedding, the job applications, the medical checkups, even the shared birth plan.
Victor had always been there: driving her to work, meeting her after shifts, attending every prenatal appointment, insisting on being present at the birth. Hed even taken pride in the fresh renovation and new furniture.
Fortunately they didnt have a mortgage. Poppys aunt had handed down a flat, so there was cash for the remodel and the new fittings.
Victor let Poppy handle the household, but hed also step in if she asked. He got along famously with her parents, and Poppy was friendly with his mother and sister. Family gatherings were always big, cheerful affairs with no hard feelings.
When Sam grew older, Poppy returned to work. Victors schedule changed, so he stopped dropping her off. She managed the commute herself, after her dad gave her his car and paid for her driving lessons. Whenever the car needed a workshop, shed ask Victor to tow ituntil he insisted that garages treat women drivers unfairly and overcharge. So she stopped asking and just handed him the keys.
Poppy wasnt a lazy spouse; she handled all the house matters herself, calling Victor only when she truly needed help. At work she was respected, climbing two rungs up the career ladder in five years. Shed rush to Victor for a celebratory hug whenever she earned a promotion.
In short, Victor had been everywhere in her lifeevery breath, every sigh. Then he left, and Poppy felt adrift, searching for his presence in empty corners, her world toppling when she couldnt find him.
Her parents saw her slump. Her mother grew worried; her father, David Clarke, took charge and sat down with her.
Darling, life throws curveballs, he said gently, but dont let them knock you flat. Its hard to understand, harder to accept, but life goes on.
Im just falling apart, Poppy sobbed.
Sweetheart, well always be here for you, David replied, smiling kindly. Remember how we raised you? Youve always been bright and capable. Dont disappoint us.
His words were warm, not judgmental.
For a month Poppy drifted on autopilot, keeping things as they were, until something odd happened that pleasantly surprised her.
If you picture a maths problem, it was like she erased Victor from the equation and solved it anewsolutions turned out very different. She discovered she didnt need to tidy every single day; the house stayed reasonably tidy for four to seven days. Laundry frequency dropped dramatically; the detergent jug seemed endless.
She also learned she didnt have to fire the stove three hours a day; cooking every other day was enough, far less than before.
Money? Victors salary had vanished from the household budget theyd all once planned together. Now only her wages and the £150 childsupport arrived, yet by monthend there was a surplus of about £250.
Did I miss a payment? she wondered anxiously. Did I forget something?
Everything was adding up, and the flat felt comfortable again.
Shed been meaning to replace the interior doors for ages, and now she had the cash. She called a local hardware store; they sent two sturdy lads to haul out the old doors, toss them, and fit the new ones, even sweeping up after themselves.
Poppy imagined how much Victor would have fussed over the job, how shed have had to coax him into doing it. Money in the pocket does spark purchases.
She bought a key rack, a new hallway lamp, a shoe chest. She thought about asking Victor to help assemble themuntil she remembered hed asked her not to nag him.
Just a handyman for an hour? she mused. Why not?
The handyman arrived promptly, listened, and within an hour said, All done. I even cleaned the bathroom. No worries about mould, but you might want a vent to keep the damp away.
Can you fit a vent? Poppy asked.
Tomorrow afternoon work for you? he replied.
Easy, cheap, no dramajust pay and its fixed, he said, and Poppys mind already raced with more improvements.
Sams school holidays were coming up, so Poppy decided to spend them with his grandmotherVictors motherrather than her own. The split wasnt bitter; the two grandmothers got along famously, chatting about everything and nothing, while Victors sister Kate joined in for the latest TV gossip.
Three days later Victor burst back in, shouting, Im back!
You could demand things when you were my husband, Poppy snapped. Now just have your coffee and get out!
Im not going anywhere! Victor roared. Im still your husband, Ive returned! I came back because I felt sorry for you, so you wouldnt disappear without me!
As you can see, Poppy said with a wry smile, I havent disappeared. Youre only a husband on paper now, but Ill fix that soon enough!
Victor stared, utterly baffled. How could this happen? I showed some nobility, didnt tear the family apart, and yet no one accepts me!
Dont want coffee? Then off you go, Poppy waved a hand as if swatting a fly. I still have lessons to do with Sam!
And just like that, the oncewarm relationship with his motherinlaw and sisterinlaw souredunderstandably, after theyd been the ones to suggest Victor save Poppy from her own misery.
