«You won’t see your granddaughter again,» declared my daughter-in-law before blocking my number.
«Margaret, would you mind if I washed the dishes? My hands are itching for something to do,» offered Emily, peeking into her mother-in-laws kitchen.
Margaret lowered her newspaper and studied her daughter-in-law. Emily stood in the doorway in her usual dressing gown, her hair in a messy bun, but her eyes were strangebright, almost feverish.
«Oh, dont trouble yourself, dear. You were up late last night finishing that presentation. Ill manage,» replied Margaret, folding the paper.
«No, really, let me. You do so much around the house, and I just get in the way,» Emily insisted, already moving toward the sink.
Margaret frowned. Something about Emilys behaviour unsettled her. Normally, she was reserved, slightly tense in her presence. But now she fluttered about like a nervous student before an exam.
«Wheres Lily?» Margaret asked, referring to her four-year-old granddaughter.
«Still asleep. She stayed up late watching cartoons,» Emily answered, scrubbing a plate with unusual vigour.
Margaret stepped closer, standing beside her at the sink. Emily smelled of the familiar perfumethe one James had given her for her birthday. But there was something else too, something sharp like anxiety.
«Emily, love, whats wrong? You seem on edge today,» Margaret said gently.
Emily froze, the wet plate in her hands. Her shoulders tensed, her fingers gripping tighter.
«Nothings wrong. Just tired, I suppose.»
«Wheres James? He promised to take Lily to the park today,» Margaret pressed, sensing the kitchen grow heavier.
«James wont be coming,» Emily snapped, slamming the plate into the drying rack so hard Margaret flinched.
«What do you mean? He said just yesterday»
«Margaret,» Emily turned slowly, her eyes red-rimmed as if shed been crying. «We need to talk.»
Margarets pulse quickened. She sank into a chair, her legs suddenly weak.
«Sit down, love. Tell me whats happened.»
Emily remained standing, drying her hands so thoroughly she might have scraped the skin off.
«James and I are divorcing.»
The words dropped into the quiet kitchen like stones into a pond. Margaret felt something inside her snap, as though every string had been cut at once.
«What what do you mean?» she barely managed. «Just last night, everything was fine. You had dinner togetherLily recited that poem»
«Margaret, weve been living like strangers for six months. We were pretending, for Lilys sake. But its over now.»
Margaret tried to stand, but her legs wouldnt obey. She clutched the edge of the table instead.
«But why? What happened? Cant it be fixed? Should I speak to James?»
Emily gave a bitter smile.
«You cant speak to James about anything anymore. He packed his things last night and left. For her.»
«Her who?» Margaret whispered, though deep down, she already knew.
«His new woman. Hannah, from his office. The one he spent the last six months gushing abouthow clever she was, how understanding.»
Emily sat opposite Margaret, her hands trembling on the table.
«I know you love him, Margaret. Hes your only son. But he betrayed our family.»
«Emily, darling,» Margaret reached for her hands, but Emily pulled away. «Men sometimes lose their heads. Hell come to his senses. He loves Lily»
«Loves her,» Emily nodded. «So much that hell see her on weekends. How convenient, isnt it? No responsibility, just the fun bits.»
«And you? You loved him once.»
Emily shut her eyes, dragging a hand down her face.
«I did. For five years. Had his child, left my job at a good firm because he wanted a housewife. Cooked, cleaned, washed. While he flirted with secretaries.»
Margarets throat tightened. Shed always suspected something was offthe late nights, the sudden business trips.
«Emily, maybe theres been a misunderstanding? All couples go through rough patches.»
«He told me outright he loves someone else. That he only stayed for Lily. Romantic, dont you think?»
Tears streaked Emilys cheeks, but her voice stayed firm.
«What happens now?» Margaret asked quietly.
«Im filing for divorce. Lily stays with me. Were moving to my mothers in Manchester.»
«Manchester?» Margaret gasped. «Why so far?»
«Because here, everything reminds me of him. And because Mums offered me work.»
Margaret stood, walked to the window. Children played outside, including the neighbours girl, Lilys age. Her chest ached.
«But Lily? Her nursery, her little friends Shes used to me.»
«Shell adjust. Children do.»
«Emily, I know youre angry with James. Rightly so. But why punish me? Ive done nothing wrong.»
Emily spun around.
«Nothing wrong? Who spent years telling James he was special, that rules didnt apply? Who excused every tantrum since school?»
«I loved him»
«Loved him? Or spoiled him?» Emilys voice hardened. «Remember when he abandoned his first girlfriend after she got pregnant? You said, Good lad, dodged a bullet there.»
Margarets face burned.
«That was years ago»
«And when he skipped child support? Shouldve thought before having a kid, you said. Now youre shocked he abandoned us too?»
«Emily, please»
«You raised a selfish man, Margaret. Someone who thinks only of himself. And Im supposed to stay quiet?»
Lily appeared in her princess pyjamas, sleepy-eyed.
«Mummy, why are you shouting?»
Emilys face softened instantly. She knelt before her.
«We werent shouting, darling. Just talking. Go wash up, Ill make breakfast.»
«Wheres Daddy? He promised the park.»
Margaret and Emily exchanged glances. Lilys trusting eyes made Margarets heart crack.
«Daddy cant today,» Emily said softly. «Hes busy.»
«Tomorrow?»
«I dont know, sweetheart.»
Lily frowned but toddled off. Once the bathroom door shut, Emily straightened.
«And now I must explain why Daddy left her.»
«Emily, darling,» Margaret touched her arm. «I know youre furious. But think of Lily. She loves me. Why take her away?»
«Because youll teach her to forgive men anything. That women must endure. I wont let my daughter repeat my mistakes.»
«Im not like that»
«You are, Margaret. Remember when James hit me after Lily was born? I came to you in tears. You said, Men get stressed with newborns. Be wiser.»
Margaret paled. She rememberedhad thought it sound advice.
«But he never did it again»
«Because I warned him Id leave. Not because he changed.»
Lilys singing drifted from the bathrooman ordinary sound that now felt like goodbye.
«When do you leave?» Margarets voice shook.
«Tomorrow. Tickets are booked.»
«So soon? Wait till the weekend»
«The longer we stay, the harder for Lily.»
«And me?» Margaret whispered. «What about me?»
Emily turned to the window.
«You shouldve thought of that sooner. When you were raising your son.»
Lily bounded out, rosy-cheeked.
«Mummy, can we go to the park with Granny? Theyve got new swings!»
Margarets eyes pleaded.
«Yes, darling,» Emily said after a pause. «Go with Granny.»
Lily clapped and dashed off. Margaret watched her, then turned to Emily.
«Is this the last time?»
«Yes.»
«Emily, I beg youdont cut me off completely. We could call, I could visit»
«No,» Emily said firmly. «You wont see Lily again. Ill block your number. Were starting fresh.»
Margarets world shattered. She crumpled into the chair, face in hands.
«You know Ill die without her.»
«I nearly died living with your son. Now its my turn to live.»
Lily raced back, dressed.
«Granny, lets go! I want the big slide!»
Margaret wiped her eyes, took Lilys hand.
«Lets go, poppet.»
At the park, Lily swung high, laughing, chattering about a new cartoon. Margaret memorised every giggle, every wordknowing tomorrow, theyd only exist in memory.
«Granny, why are you crying?» Lily asked, hopping off.
«Just the wind, love. Just the wind.»
At home, Emily was packing. Lily frowned at the suitcases.
«Mummy, where are we going?»
«To Grandma Roses. Itll be fun.»
«Is Daddy coming?»
«No. Daddys staying.»
«And Granny?»
Emily glanced at Margaretsomething almost like regret flickered.
«Grannys staying too.»
«But I dont want to leave Granny!» Lily wailed. «She does the voices in stories!»
«Ill do voices,» Emily said gently.
«Not like Granny!»
Margaret knelt.
«Poppet, youll go with Mummy, and Ill love you so much from here. Think of you every day.»
«Will we come back?»
«I dont know, sweetheart.»
Lily cried harder, clinging to Margaret, who stroked her hairfeeling something inside her tear apart.
«Mummy, please dont go,» she suddenly begged Emily. «Look how upset she is.»
«Better she adjusts now than suffers later,» Emily said, though her voice wavered.
That evening, with Lily asleep, Margaret tried once more.
«Emily, I know I failed. But give me a chance.»
«Too late, Margaret.»
«What if I talk to James? Make him come back?»
Emily laughed bitterly.
«You couldnt. Hes too busy with his new life. And I dont want a man who must be forced to love his family.»
At dawn, Margaret watched them load into a cab. Lily sobbed, clinging to her.
«Granny, come with us!»
«I cant, poppet.»
Emily buckled Lily in, then met Margarets gaze before shutting the door.
«Goodbye, Margaret.»
«Goodbye, Emily.»
The cab pulled away. Margaret stood frozen on the step. Neighbour Agnes approached.
«Margaret, whats happened? Wheres Emily off to?»
«Gone,» Margaret murmured. «Gone for good.»
Inside, the empty house echoed. On the table lay Lilys forgotten toya stuffed rabbit.
Margaret clutched it to her chest and knew her life was over.
