Helen stood by the window, her arms cradling little Emily, who had long since drifted to sleep. Yet Helen couldnt bring herself to move. An hour had passed since shed last seen her husbands car vanish down the lane, and still, she stared into the empty street, willing it to reappear.
Earlier that evening, Edward had come home from work, but instead of joining her in the kitchen, hed begun packing his things. When she confronted him, his words had been cold.
«Where are you going?» shed asked, bewildered.
«Im leaving. Im leaving you for someone else.»
«Edward, this isnt funny. Did something happen at work? Is this about a business trip?»
«For heavens sake, Helen, must you be so dense? Im tired of you. Its always Emilynever me. Youve let yourself go.»
«Keep your voice down. Youll wake her.»
«There you go againonly thinking of her. Your husband walks out, and you»
«A real man wouldnt abandon his wife and child,» Helen whispered before retreating to the nursery.
She knew his temper. If she pressed further, it would only erupt into shouting. Tears burned, but she refused to let him see them. Scooping Emily from her cot, she fled to the kitchensomewhere Edward wouldnt follow, for there was nothing of his left to take.
Through the window, she watched him drive away without so much as a glance back. Helen lingered, foolishly hoping his car would return, that hed laugh and call it a cruel joke. But the street remained empty.
Sleep wouldnt come that night. There was no one to callno one whod understand. Her mother had never been a comfort, too wrapped up in her younger brother to care much for Helen. Friends were in the same boat, weary mothers like herself, hardly in a position to help.
By dawn, exhaustion claimed her. When she tried ringing Edward, he sent a single text: *Dont contact me again.*
Emilys fussing pulled her back. She couldnt afford to crumble. If hed gone, so be it. She still had her daughter. But a glance at her meagre savingsbarely enough to cover rent, even with the landlords patiencesent a pang of dread through her. Food, bills, everything loomed. Remote work mightve been an option, but Edward had taken his laptop.
Two weeks remained before the lease ended. She had to act fast.
Calls to acquaintances yielded nothing. No employer would take a single mother. Even cleaning jobs required childcaresomething she lacked. Moving to cheaper lodgings wouldnt help; their flat was already modest. Returning to her parents seemed the only choicebut her brothers family crowded their small house already. Five under one roof; adding herself and Emily would be impossible.
Helen told the landlady shed leave when the lease expired. Desperation gnawed at her. Boarding houses were grim, their tenants rough. Messages to Edwardpleas for supportwent unanswered. Blocked, likely.
Five days remained when the doorbell rang.
Margaret Whitmoreher mother-in-lawstood on the step.
*What fresh trouble is this?* Helen thought, stepping aside to let her in.
Their relationship had always been strainedpolite smiles masking mutual dislike. From their first meeting, Margaret had made her distaste clear, certain her son couldve done better. Helen had insisted they live apartno chance of peace under one roof.
Visits had been unbearable. *Helen, do you ever dust?* Margaret would snipe, refusing meals with a curled lip*Fit for pigs.* Pregnancy had softened her slightly, but when Emily was born, shed demanded a paternity test. Only at six months did she grudgingly acknowledge the child.
Edward had dismissed it*She raised me alone; shes protective.* Helen endured, never asking for help.
Now, here Margaret stood, in the wake of Edwards betrayal.
«Pack your things,» Margaret said briskly. «You and Emily shant stay here.»
«II dont understand.»
«Whats to understand? Youre coming with me.»
«To *your* house?»
«Where else? Your mothers, with that brood of hers?»
«You know?»
«Of course I know. That fool told me today. Ive a three-bedroom house. Theres room.»
Helen had no choice.
Margarets home was daunting at first. But the spare room was tidy, and after settling Emily, Helen hesitated in the kitchen.
«Helen,» Margaret said quietly, «I know weve never been close. But I hope you can forgive me.»
«You only wanted what was best for Edward.»
«Best?» Margaret scoffed. «I was selfish. Today, he calledtold me everything. Forgive me for raising such a son. His father left when he was three months old. He *knew* the struggleyet he repeated it. Stay as long as you need.»
Helen hadnt expected this. Tears splashed onto the table.
«None of that,» Margaret chided.
«Its gratitude.»
«Save it. Consider it my penance. Well manage. Roof over our heads. When you find work, Ill mind Emily.»
From then, they were inseparable. Margarets sharp tongue still surfaced, but she reined it in, offering advice gently, not with force.
On Emilys first birthday, the house glittered with balloons. A fragrant apple pie sat on the table.
«Look, Helenher first steps!» Margaret beamed as Emily wobbled before plopping down, giggling.
The doorbell interrupted them.
Edward stood there, a stranger beside him.
«Mum, were moving in,» he announced.
Margarets voice turned icy. «Youve been gone five months. Why now?»
«Rents steep. Angela and I»
«*Angela*?»
«Youve no space?»
«None for you.»
Edward pushed pastthen froze. Helen and Emily sat at the festively set table.
«*Shes* here?»
«Your wifeuntil tomorrows divorce hearing. Todays your daughters birthday. Forgotten?»
«I thought we *were* divorced. And how do I know shes mine?»
«Then demand a test. Waste your money. But leave.»
«Youll never see me again.»
Margaret pointed to the door.
Later, Helen found her. «Mum should I go? Hes your son.»
«And youre my daughter now. Wives come and gochildren dont. He knew better.»
Four years passed.
«Helen, when will you introduce me to this mystery man?» Margaret teased.
Helen blushed.
«Out with it! So long as hes good to you and Emily.»
«You dont mind?»
«Only his character matters.»
At Helens wedding to William, Margaret approved. He was steady, kinda proper father to Emily.
«Dont think Ill stop spoiling her,» Margaret warned.
«As if Id dream of it.»
When their son was born, Margaret claimed him as her own. No one arguedHelen had long thought of her as mother.
Edward married Angela. They moved away. Through distant kin, Margaret heard he was well. A mothers love endured, even for a wayward son.
But her joy now was Helenher daughterand two grandchildren. For now. Shed room for more. Love, after all, was boundless.
