**»Mum Lucy»**
The knock at the door was sharp. Lucy wiped her hands on her apron and opened it to find a young woman standing there, pale and nervous.
«Hello, does Alex live here?»
«Depends who’s asking.»
«Are you his mother?»
«Me? Im his wife! Who are you, love?»
The strangers lip trembled. «Hes in hospital. They wont tell me anythingonly family gets updates. Can I come in?»
Lucy sighed and waved her inside. «Fine, come through. But Id like to know why youre so bothered about my husbands health. Who *are* you?» She gestured to the kitchen. «Sit down.»
The girl perched on the edge of the chair, pulling a tissue from her pocket to dab her forehead. Lucy busied herself at the stove, waiting.
«Fancy some water?»
«Nowell, yes, please.»
«Right, out with it then. You here for a cuppa or what?»
«Alex promised to marry me,» the girl blurted, then added quietly, «This autumn.»
Lucy scrubbed a pot harder. «Oh, did he now? Well, bigamys still illegal, last I checked.»
«Im not joking.»
«Neither am I. Lost my sense of humour years ago.»
«He *will* marry me. Once he divorces you. Then»
«Divorce? Oh, charming. And why turn up now? Why not wait till autumn? Whats your name?»
«Emily. Emily Carter.»
«Lucy. So, Emily, whys he waiting till autumn? Or is it because youre about to pop?» Lucy nodded at the girls swollen belly. «His doing?»
Emily swallowed. «Yes. He said hed file for divorce after your birthday.»
«Ah. Now it makes sense. Bloody Alexsome people never change, do they?»
«What dyou mean?»
«I mean Ive got your measure. Where you from?»
«A village near Sheffield. Worked at the factory.»
«Right. Came to conquer the big city, did you? Well, Alex cant stand babies crying. Whens it due?»
«Two months.»
«Ha! No wonder hes dodging you. Wants to save his precious nerves. First time our lad was born, he moved in with his parentscouldnt stand the racket. And his jobs hardly back-breaking, is it?»
Emilys voice cracked. «Please, just tell me how he is.»
«Why not? Stable but serious. Dont look like thathell live.»
«What should I do?»
«How should *I* know? You didnt ask my advice before hopping into bed with him!»
«Im in my third year at unidistance learning. My mums got my little brothers at home. Ive nowhere to go. Alex said you two were like strangers. That he only stayed for the kids.»
«Did he now?» Lucys patience was hanging by a thread. «Give me your number and address. Ill ring you.»
«What for?»
«So you can collect him when hes discharged.»
«Collect him *where*?»
«Your mums.»
«Shes got no room!»
«Where you living now then?»
«A hostel.»
«Well, theres your answer. Dont eye up my flatit was my nans, so hes not getting a penny in the divorce. Stop blinking at me like that. Hes got no claim here.»
«Thats cruel. We love each other.»
«Then you can live in a tent. Now hop it, while Im still being nice. Doors where you left it.» Lucy hurled the pot into the sink, the clang echoing her fury.
Three sleepless nights. Three days barely eating since Alexs accident. At first, the doctors hadnt been hopeful, but her stubborn sod had pulled through. Exhausted, Lucy barely had the energy to deal with this Emily and her flat-hunting eyes. Part of her wanted to yank the girls thin hair and shove her down the stairs. But she was too tired for rage.
Now, trudging to the hospital, Lucy debated whether to nurse him or throttle him. Oh, shed «nurse» him alrightright back to health, just to make him suffer. And how *thoughtful* of him to wait till after her birthday.
Rounding the corner, she spotted Emily on the bench outside.
«Auntie Lucy! Auntie Lucy!»
«Persistent, arent you? Didnt I say everything already?»
«Youre seeing Alex?»
«Whats it to you?»
«Take me with you.»
Lucy didnt answer. They walked in silence. On the bus, Emily sat beside her. Lucy turned to the window, pretending she didnt exist.
At the ward, Lucy introduced Emily as her niece. «Wait here. Ill go first.»
Alex was alone, his leg in traction. He blinked awake as she entered, grinning like a scolded puppy. Bruised, scraped, pathetic.
«Hello, Alex.»
«Lucy! You came. I missed you.»
«Did you now?» She pulled tupperware from her bag. «Mashed potatoes and gravy, just how you like. Eat it before its cold.» Her hands shook.
«Love, youre all flushed. You ill?»
«Worse. I waited for you after your army stint, remember? Defied my parents. Lived on beans on toast for months. The kids, the sleepless nights Did you forget *everything*?»
«Course not! Lucy, not here»
«Oh, but *some* things you forgot.» Her throat tightened.
«Lucy, whats wrong?»
«You stabbed me in the back, Alex. Straight through the heart.»
«Love, Im sorry! It was an accidentI was driving slow, I swear!»
«How *could* you?» She flung oranges onto the bedside table.
«Well get another car, soon as Im»
«*The car?* You think I care about the *car*?»
«Then what?»
«*Who.* Emily. Didnt catch her surname.»
«Who?»
«The one carrying your baby!»
«*What baby?!* Lucy, have you gone mad?»
«Mad? *You* knock up some girl, promise her the moon, and *Im* mad?» She finally broke, sobbing.
«Lucy, should I call a doctor? Youre not yourself»
«*Not myself?* I brought her here!» She yanked the door open. «*Emily! Get in!*»
Emily waddled in, hand on her back, scanning the room. Her eyes landed on Alexand confusion twisted her face.
«Wheres *my* Alex?»
Lucys smile was razor-thin. «*This* isnt him?»
Emily gaped. «Are you joking? This bald bloke isnt my Alex!» She fumbled for her phone. «Lookheres us together!»
Lucy burst out laughing. «*Wrong Alex?*»
As her husbands face drained of colour and Emilys flushed with humiliation, Lucy collapsed onto the spare bed, howling with laughter until tears streamed down her face.
Turns out, Emilys Alex had given her a fake address to dodge responsibility. No accident, no divorce plansjust a coward.
But fate had brought Emily to Lucy for a reason. She helped her find a flat, stood by her at the birth, and made sure the real Alex paid child support. The weasel knew Lucy would hunt him down if he slacked.
Years later, when Emilys son was older, Lucy introduced her to a decent bloke, even danced at their wedding.
So Mum Lucy kept her own happinessand gave some away too. Sometimes, the wrong turn leads you right where youre needed.
