«I cant take this anymore! Every night its the same thing!» Emily slammed the plates into the sink. «He comes home, eats in silence, then disappears into his room for hours. Its like living with a stranger!»
«Mum, calm down,» Sophie set her phone aside and looked at her frazzled mother. «Dads just going through a rough patch at work. You know that.»
«A rough patch?» Emily threw her hands up. «This rough patch has lasted three months! Your dad used to talk to me, tell me everything. Now its like theres a wall between us. And those odd whispered phone calls…»
Sophie shifted uncomfortably. Her eyes flicked to her phone on the table.
«Youre overreacting, Mum. Dads just tired.»
«Tired,» Emily echoed. «He wasnt too tired before. Twenty-five years together, and he always made time for us. Now…» She trailed off, scrubbing a perfectly clean pot. Sophie sighed, grabbed her phone, and retreated to her room. Emily watched her go, unease gnawing at her.
Something was wrong. James, always so open and attentive, had become distantavoiding conversations, staying late at work, and worst of all, never meeting her eyes. Like he was hiding something.
«Another woman?» The thought haunted Emily, but she dismissed it. Not James. Never. So what, then?
Later, as she tidied the hallway, the front door opened. James was home.
«Evening,» he muttered, kicking off his shoes. «Late again.»
«Always,» Emily forced a smile. «Hungry?»
«Not really.» He avoided her gaze. «Sophie home?»
«Upstairs,» Emily hesitated. «James can we talk?»
«About what?» He finally looked at her. Exhaustion lined his faceand something else. Fear?
«Us. Whatevers happening. Youve been so distant…»
«Not tonight, Em,» he squeezed her shoulder lightly. «Im knackered.»
Without waiting for a reply, he headed to Sophies room, knocked, and slipped inside. Emily lingered in the hallway, dread pooling in her chest. What had happened to her husband? To their family?
That night, Emily lay awake. Jamess back was turned, his breathing steady, but she knew he wasnt asleep. She wanted to reach out, ask him outright: «Whats going on?» But she didnt. She was afraid of the answer.
The next morning, after James left for work, Emily busied herself with cleaning. Sophie was still asleepher university classes started late.
Emily dusted, vacuumed, mopped. In Sophies room, she straightened the bed, folded clothes, and wiped the desk. Her daughters phone lay forgotten.
«Should charge it,» Emily thought. Sophie never locked her phone»Nothing to hide,» she always said. Emily plugged it in, and the screen lit up. An open chat with Dad.
Emily didnt mean to read it. But the message glared at her: «Dad, you HAVE to tell Mum. She deserves to know.»
Her heart skipped. Tell her what?
«Put it down,» she scolded herself. But her fingers scrolled against her will.
James: «Soph, I cant. Shes only just recovered from your grandmas stroke.»
Sophie: «This is different! The doctors said the odds are good!»
James: «Still. Chemo, surgeryshell lose it with worry.»
Emilys hands trembled. Chemo? Surgery?
Sophie: «Dad, shes not blind. She sees youve changed. She asked me yesterday if you were having an affair.»
James: «Rubbish. Just say Im swamped at work. I need time. At least till the biopsy results.»
Biopsy. Emily sank onto Sophies bed, dizzy. James was sick. And hiding it.
She scrolled further. Messages from three months ago:
James: «Need your help. Dont tell Mum.»
Sophie: «Whats wrong?!»
James: «Remember my stomach pains? Got tested. Bad results. Oncology referral.»
Sophie: «DAD!!!»
James: «Shh. Might be a mistake. But Mum cant know. Not after Grandma.»
Emilys vision blurred. Her mums stroke six months ago had shattered her. James had been her rock. Now he was sufferingalone.
The door creaked. Sophie stood there, wide-eyed. «Mum? Whatre you?»
«Just cleaning,» Emily shoved the phone away, but it was too late. Sophie saw the chat.
«You read my messages?» Her voice waverednot angry, but scared.
«Sophie,» Emily stood, knees shaking. «Whats wrong with your dad?»
Sophie bit her lip. Then, with a sigh, she sat beside her. «Hell kill me.»
«Please,» Emily gripped her hand.
And Sophie told her. The stomach pains three months ago. The tests. The suspected pancreatic cancer.
«He didnt want to worry you,» Sophie whispered. «After Grandma he saw how it wrecked you. He was terrified youd crumble.»
«Terrified? James?» Emily shook her head. «Hes never been afraid of anything.»
«Of hurting you,» Sophie met her eyes. «The biopsys tomorrow. I promised to go with him.»
Emily stood, staring out the window. A normal spring daysunshine, blooming trees. And her world, upside down.
«Mum,» Sophie ventured. «Are you furious?»
«At who? You? For keeping his secret? Or him? For shutting me out?»
«Both, maybe,» Sophie looked down. «We shouldve told you.»
«You shouldve,» Emily nodded. «Nowwhich hospital? What time?»
«St. Georges Oncology. Ten AM.»
«Right,» Emily straightened. «Lets make his favorite for dinner. Hell be hungry.»
That evening, James came home to a set table and Emily, unusually cheerful.
«Special occasion?» He eyed the roast.
«Just felt like it,» Emily smiled.
James glanced at Sophie, who avoided his gaze. «Whats going on?»
«Just realized something today,» Emily poured him wine.
«Oh?» He sipped warily.
«That weve been married too long for secrets. Im coming with you to St. Georges tomorrow.»
His glass froze mid-air. «YouSophie?»
«I didnt tell her!» Sophie blurted. «She saw the texts when she was cleaning.»
James paled. «I wanted to spare you,» he whispered. «After your mum…»
«And Ive been terrified,» Emily took his hand. «Watching you pull away, not knowing why. That was worse.»
«Im sorry,» he squeezed her fingers. «I thought it was better.»
«Better is facing it together,» Emily said firmly. «Whatever the biopsy says.»
«And if its bad?»
«Then we fight,» Emily held his gaze. «But I believe itll be okay. Youre strong.»
Sophie sniffled.
«Now weve made her cry,» James joked weakly.
«Relief,» Sophie wiped her eyes. «Lying to you was awful.»
«Sorry, love,» James sighed. «I put too much on you.»
«Forget it,» Emily kissed his cheek. «Now eat. Big day tomorrow.»
They dined together properly for the first time in monthslaughing, talking. Only when Sophie went upstairs did Emily ask, «Why, James? Why shut me out?»
He stared out the window. «Stupid pride, I guess. Didnt want to seem weak. Not after being your rock with your mum.»
«You *are* my rock,» Emily cupped his face. «And rocks need support too. Thats what familys for.»
He pulled her close. «Ive been such an idiot. Wasted so much time hiding…»
«Doesnt matter now,» Emily whispered. «Were in this together.»
The next morning, they went to St. Georges. The biopsy took hours. Then came the agonizing wait. Finally, the doctor smiled.
«Benign. Just a small surgery. No chemo needed.»
Emily clutched Jamess hand as relief flooded her. His eyes shone with joy.
«Thank you,» she breathed.
«Thank *him*,» the doctor nodded at James. «If hed waited six more months, wed be having a different conversation.»
Outside, James leaned against the wall, covering his face. His shoulders shook.
«James,» Emily held him. «Its okay.»
«Forgive me,» he rasped. «For pushing you away.»
«Nothing to forgive,» she wiped his tears. «Were through it now.»
Sophie rushed over. «Well?!»
«All clear,» Emily hugged her. «Just a quick op, and Dads good as new.»
«Thank God,» Sophie exhaled. «I was so scared…»
«We all were,» Emily looked at James. «But its over. Right, love?»
«Right,» he grinnedhis old, warm smile. «And things will be better than ever.»
He pulled them both into a tight embrace. And Emily thought sometimes you have to cross a linelike reading a textto save what matters most. Even if its not quite right.
