«Hello, does Alex live here?»
«Yes… Whos asking?»
«Are you his mother?»
«Me?! His wife! What do you want, love?»
«Hes in hospital, and I dont know how hes doing. They wont tell me anythingfamily only.» The strangers lip quivered. «Can I come in?»
«Fine, come in. I dont get why youre so bothered about my husbands healthwho even are you?» Lucy gestured toward the kitchen. «Through there.»
The girl perched on the edge of the kitchen bench, pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, and dabbed her forehead.
Lucy busied herself by the stove, waiting for the visitor to speak.
«Fancy some water?»
«No… Actually, yes, please.»
«Going to keep quiet, then? Or did you just come round for a sit-down?»
«Alex promised to marry me,» the girl blurted, then added after a pause, «this autumn!»
«Oh, did he now?» Lucy scrubbed a saucepan. «Thats a game-changer, except bigamys illegal here.»
«Im not here for jokes.»
«Neither am I. Ive no sense of humour.»
«You dont understandhes marrying me in autumn. Hell divorce you, and then»
«Right. So why turn up now? Come back in autumn. Whats your name?»
«Emily… Emily Carter.»
«Im Lucy. Emily Carter, why not summer? Cant see your feet under that bump. His doing?»
«Yes, as you can see, Alex and I are expecting. He said hed file for divorce after your birthday.»
«Ah, now it makes sense. Bloody Alexsome people never change, do they? Leopards and spots, eh?»
«What? I dont follow.»
«But I follow you just fine. Where are you from?»
«A village. Worked at the factory.»
«Come to conquer the big city, then. Alex cant stand babies crying. Due soon?»
«Two months.»
«Oof, thats why hes dodgingwants to spare his nerves. When our first was born, he moved in with his parents, said he couldnt sleep for workeasy job, mind, hardly breaking a sweat.»
«Can you at least tell me how he is?»
«Why not? Stable but serious. Dont look so shockedhell live.»
«What am I supposed to do?»
«How should I know? You didnt ask me what to do before jumping into bed with him!»
«Im in my third year at uni, distance learning. Mum and little brothers at homenowhere to go. Alex said youve been like strangers for years. Hes only staying for the kids.»
«Did he now?» Lucy felt her patience hanging by a thread. «Give me your number and address. Ill be in touch.»
«What for?»
«When hes discharged, Ill call so you can collect him.»
«Collect him where?»
«Your mums. Your brothers.»
«No room there.»
«Where are you living now, then?»
«Student halls.»
«Then thats where youre headed. Dont eye up my flatit was my nans, so hes not getting a penny in the divorce. What, surprised? Hes got no claim here.»
«Youre being cruel. We love each other.»
«Then a tentll do. Now hop it before I lose my temper. Remember where the door is? Goodwont show you out.» Lucy flung the half-scrubbed pan into the sink.
Three days without proper sleep or food since her husbands accident. Early reports were grim, but Alex pulled through. Exhausted, Lucy barely functioned while he hovered between life and death. The hospital calledmoved to a ward, wifes care needed now.
And then this pregnant girl turns up, flat-hunting. Oh, how Lucy itched to twist Emilys wispy hair round her fist and toss her down five flights. But she was drainedmentally, physically.
Head down, lost in thought, Lucy trudged along. Like it or not, she had to face him. Nurse him or give him a piece of her mind. Right now, shed nurse him back to health so hard hed regret it. At least hed spared her birthday.
Emily sat on the bench outside.
«Aunt Lucy! Aunt Lucy!»
«Persistent, arent you? What now? Didnt I say it all?»
«Youre visiting Alex?»
«So?»
«Take me with you.»
Lucy said nothing. They walked in silence. On the bus, Emily sat beside her. Lucy turned to the window, pretending not to know her.
She passed Emily off as a niece to the nurses.
«Wait here. Ill go first.» Lucy marched into the ward.
Alex lay alone, no roommates yet. Leg in traction.
His wife entered. He woke under her stare, smiled weaklybut Lucy wasnt smiling. Her heart was heavy.
He blinked up at her with puppy-dog eyes. A battered stray. Bruised, scraped, leg in plaster.
«Hello, Alex.»
«Lucy, you came. I missed you.»
«Missed me, did you? Ill bet.»
From her bag, she unpacked homemade food onto the bedside table. Her cheeks burned, sweat pricking her neck.
«Hot potatoes and mince, just how you like it. Eat before it cools.» Her voice shook.
«Lucy, love, why so red? Feeling poorly?»
«Worse! I waited for you, Alex. Defied my parents to marry you. Remember living on pasta? Our boys, the sleepless nights… How could you forget?»
«Never could. Lucy, whats got into you? Not the time or place.»
«Oh, its the perfect place, Alex.» A lump rose in her throat.
«Lucy, whats wrong?»
«Wrong? You stabbed me in the back, Alex. Right through the heart.»
«Lucy, forgive meI didnt mean to crash. Swear I was driving slow, like you always say.»
«How could you, Alex?» She shook her head.
«Lucy, love, well get another carjust let me heal.»
«Ugh, you think I care about the car?» She tossed oranges onto the table.
«Then what? That I nearly died? I look that bad?»
«Dont fretyoull heal by autumn. Wedding bells, remember?»
«Lucy, what wedding?»
«The one with Emily Carter. Didnt ask her surnametoo busy hearing about your baby.»
«What baby? Lucy, have you hit your head?»
«My head? Youre the one shagging students, knocking them up, and Im mad?» Lucy finally broke, sobbing.
«Lucy, lets call a doctorthis is nerves.» Alex struggled up.
«Nerves? I brought her. Lets fetch your shameless Emily. Shes got plans to move into my flat after you divorce me this autumnpost-birthday, very thoughtful.»
Alexs hair stood on end. Gobsmacked.
«Cat got your tongue?» Lucy yanked the door open. «Emilyin here!»
Emily waddled in, hand on her back, scanning the room. She froze at the sight of Alex, face falling.
«Wheres my Alex?»
«And whos this?»
«Aunt Lucy, is this a joke? This balding bloke isnt my Alex.»
«Not yours?»
«Mines young and fit. LookIve photos.» She fumbled with her phone. «This is us.»
«So youve got the wrong Alex?» Lucy grinned.
Watching Alexs near-heart attack and Emilys confusion, Lucy burst out laughing. She collapsed onto a spare bed, clutching her sides, tears streaming.
«Wait!» Lucy called as Emily turned to leave. «Start from the beginning.»
And so Lucy learned the truth: her Alex had given Emily the wrong address. Whod have thought another Alex lived there?
Lucy called in favours and tracked down the right Alexno hospital, no accident. Hed lied to ditch Emily. Divorce? Never on the cards.
Fate had brought them together. Lucy wasnt one to abandon the girl. She helped with housing, collected her from the hospital, even chased child supportteaching the real Alex a lesson.
The deadbeat dad stays absent but pays on time. He knows Lucys watching.
Emily calls her «Mum Lucy, my guardian angel.»
When Emilys son grew, Lucy set her up with a decent blokeeven danced at their wedding.
Thats Mum Lucykeeping her own joy intact and spreading it around.
