James left her with their little daughter and walked away. But when her mother-in-law came to gloat, Emily
Emily couldnt settle. Little Sophie had fallen asleep in her arms, yet she still lingered by the window, staring into the courtyard. An hour had passed since shed started watching.
A few hours earlier, her beloved husband, James, had come home from work. Emily had been in the kitchen, but he never joined her. When she stepped into the living room, she found him packing his things.
«Where are you going?» she asked, bewildered.
«Im leaving. Leaving you for the woman I love.»
«James, are you joking? Did something happen at work? Is it a business trip?»
«Why cant you understand? Im sick of you. All you care about is Sophieyou dont even notice me anymore. You dont take care of yourself.»
«Dont shoutyoull wake Sophie.»
«See? There you go again, only thinking about her. Your husband is walking out, and you»
«A real man wouldnt abandon his wife and child,» Emily said quietly before retreating to her daughters room.
She knew his temper. If she kept arguing, it would blow up into a row. Tears welled, but she refused to let him see them. She lifted Sophie from the cot and took her to the kitchenJames wouldnt follow. There was nothing of his to take there.
From the window, she watched him drive off without a backward glance. Emily couldnt tear herself away. Maybe she hoped his car would reappear, that hed laugh and call it a stupid joke. But it never happened.
She didnt sleep all night. There was no one to call, no one to share her grief with. Her mother had long stopped caringshed been thrilled when Emily married and then promptly forgot about her. To Linda, it was as if only one child had ever existed: Emilys younger brother. There were friends, of course, but they were other mums like her, probably asleep now. What could they do anyway?
Emily finally dozed off at dawn. She tried calling James, but he hung up and texted her to stop bothering him.
Just then, Sophie fussed, and Emily went to her. No time to wallow. He was goneso be it. She had her daughter to care for. She needed to figure out how to survive.
Checking her purse and bank account, Emily panicked. Even if she begged the landlady for five more days until her benefits came in, it wouldnt be enough. They still needed food. She couldve taken remote work, but James had taken his laptop.
She had two weeks left on the rent to come up with a planand fast.
But after calling everyone she knew, reality hit. No one would hire her with a toddler. Even mopping floors would require someone to watch Sophie for an hour or twoand there was no one. Moving wouldnt help either. They were already in the cheapest flat she could find. The only option was her parents housebut she was late to family life, while her brother had married young. He lived there with his wife and twin boys. Five people crammed into a two-bedroom. Adding her and Sophie? Impossible.
Emily told the landlady shed leave when the rent ran out. She was desperate. Yes, she could rent a room in a shared house, but the neighbourhoods shed seen were grim. She texted James, begging for help with Sophies expenses, but he didnt replyhad he blocked her?
With five days left, Emily started packing. There wasnt much, but she needed to keep busy. Then the doorbell rang.
Opening it, she froze. Standing there was Margarether mother-in-law.
«More trouble?» Emily thought, stepping aside to let her in.
Their relationship had always been tensepolite smiles masking resentment. From their first meeting, Margaret made it clear she disapproved. Like many mothers, she believed her son couldve done better. Emily had insisted they wouldnt live togethertheyd never get along. So theyd rented instead.
Margarets visits were laced with passive aggression: «Emily, do you ever dust in here?» She refused Emilys cooking, claiming it was fit only for pigs. The jabs lessened when Emily got pregnant, but when Sophie was born, Margaret declared she «wasnt their blood» and demanded a paternity test.
Only when Sophie turned six months did Margaret finally see familiar features and hold her occasionally. James had tried to smooth things over, reminding Emily his mother raised him aloneshe was just possessive. He asked her to tolerate the rare visits. Emily had wished for help but never asked.
And now Margaret stood in her hallwayafter James had left. Here to gloat, surely. But Emily was past caring.
Margarets voice snapped her from her thoughts.
«Right, pack your things. You and Sophie dont belong here,» Margaret said.
«Margaret, I dont understand.»
«Whats to understand? Pack. Youre coming with me.»
«To yours?»
«Where else? Your mothers, with that overcrowded house?»
«You know about that?»
«Of course I do. Pity I didnt learn sooner. That fool told me today. Ive a three-bedroomplenty of space.»
Emily had no choice. In for a penny, in for a pound.
At Margarets house, fear gave way to surprise when she showed them their room. Once Emily unpacked and put Sophie down, she joined Margaret in the kitchen.
«Emily, I know weve never been close. But try to understandand forgive me if you can.»
«You just wanted what was best for your son.»
«Best?» Margaret scoffed. «I was selfish. Today he called and told me everything. Forgive me for raising such a son. I dont know where I went wrong. His father left us when James was three months old. He knew how hard it was for a single motheryet he repeated that cowards mistake. Stay as long as you need.»
Emily never imagined Margaret would take her side. She couldnt speakjust tears on the table.
«None of that,» Margaret said sternly.
«Its just gratitude.»
«Save it. Consider it my penance. Dont worrywell manage. Roof over our heads. When you find work, Ill mind Sophie.»
From that day, they became inseparable. Margaret still had her moments, but she caught herselfoffering gentle advice instead of demands.
Today was Sophies first birthday. Emily and Margaret decorated with balloons, and an apple pie sat proudly on the table.
Sophie toddled toward the balloons.
«Emily, lookher first steps!» Margaret beamed.
They scooped her up after she plopped down, deciding walking was enough for one day. As they sat to eat, the doorbell rang. Margaret answeredand froze. James stood there with a woman.
«Hi, Mum,» he said casually, stepping inside.
«Hello, son. To what do we owe the pleasure?»
«Cant I just visit?»
«Five months without a word? Must be important.»
«Mum, rentings expensive. Angela and I thought wed stay here.»
«Angela? And whos this?»
«Come on, Mum»
«No room. Ive got company.»
«Youve got a bloke here?»
«Even if I did, its none of your business. Watch your tongue.»
James barged in, spotting Emily and Sophie at the festive table.
«Son, youre not welcome. Were busy.»
«Whats she doing here?»
«That, as you put it, is still your lawful wife. Final divorce hearings tomorrowwhich youll miss, as usual. Todays your daughters first birthday. Forgot, did you?»
«I thought we were already divorced. And how do I know shes even mine?»
«If youd bothered showing up, you wouldve known. Not that it matters. Emily and Sophie live here now. Traitors dont. Doubt her paternity? Go aheadwaste money on a DNA test. Now leave.»
«Mum, if I walk out now, thats it.»
Margaret said nothing. She pointed to the door.
After Sophie slept, Emily approached her.
«Mum are you all right? Should I go? Hes your son.»
«Emily, he is. But no man treats his child like that. Wives come and gochildren dont. He knew our struggle. I wont forgive him until he learns.»
Four years later
«Emily, how long will you hide this man from me?»
Emily flushed. She hadnt realised Margaret knew.
«Blushing like a schoolgirl! Bring him round.»
«You dont mind?»
«Long as he treats you and Sophie right.»
Margaret attended Emily and Davids wedding. She approvedhe was responsible, clearly loved Emily, and doted on Sophie.
«Dont think Ill stop helping with Sophie,» Margaret told her at the reception.
«Mum, Id never doubt it. She adores you.»
When Emily and David had a son, Margaret declared him her grandson too. No one arguedEmily had long seen her as a mother. Her own mum had never been this close.
James married Angela. They moved away, and Margaret only heard through distant relatives that he was doing well. Hed hurt her, but he was still her son. Shed keep an eye on him.
But now she had a daughter in Emilyand two grandchildren. For now. She hoped for more. There was plenty of love left to give.
