«Hello, does Alex live here?»
«Yes And whos asking?»
«Are you his mother?»
«Me? His wife! What do you want, love?»
«Hes in hospital, and I dont know how he isthey wont tell me anything. Only family gets to know.» The strangers lip trembled. «Can I come in?»
«Alright, come in. Though I dont get why youre so bothered about my husbands health. Who even are you?» Lucy gestured toward the kitchen. «Go on through.»
The girl perched on the edge of the kitchen bench, pulled a tissue from her pocket, and wiped sweat from her brow.
Lucy busied herself at the stove, waiting for the visitor to speak.
«Fancy some water?»
«No Actually, yes, if its no trouble.»
«Going to keep me guessing, then? Did you come round for a cuppa or what?»
«Alex promised to marry me,» she said after a pause, «this autumn!»
«Did he now?» Lucy scrubbed a saucepan. «That changes things, doesnt it? Only the law frowns on bigamy.»
«Im not here for jokes.»
«Neither am Inever had much of a sense of humour.»
«You dont understand. Hes marrying me this autumn. Once he divorces you, then»
«Hmm. Why show up now, then? Come back in autumn. Whats your name?»
«Annie Anna.»
«Well, Im Lucy! Annie-Anna, why not summer? Youre waddling like a duckhis doing?»
«Yes, as you can see, Alex and I are expecting. He said hed file for divorce after your birthday.»
«Oh, now I get it. Bloody Alexsome men never change. Whats that saying? You cant teach an old dog new tricks.»
«What are you on about? I dont follow.»
«But I follow you just fine. Wherere you from?»
«A village. Worked at the factory.»
«Come to conquer the big city, then. And my Alex cant stand babies crying. Due soon?»
«Two months.»
«Blimey, no wonder hes dodgingwants to spare his nerves. When our first was born, he moved in with his parentssaid he couldnt sleep for work. And his jobs hardly back-breaking.»
«Will you just tell me how he is?»
«Why not? Stable but serious. Dont gawphell live.»
«What am I supposed to do?»
«How do I know? Didnt ask me for advice before hopping into bed with him, did you?»
«Im in my third year at unidistance learning. Mums got my little brothers at home. Nowhere else to go. Alex said youd been strangers for yearshe only stayed for the kids.»
«Did he now?» Lucys patience was 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 placewith your brothers.»
«Shes got no room.»
«Well, wherere you living now?»
«A hostel.»
«Then thats where youll go. Dont eye up my flatit was my nans, so its not part of any divorce. What, shocked? Hes got no claim on my home.»
«Youre being cruel. We love each other.»
«Then you can live in a tent. Now hop it before I lose my temper. Remember the door? Goodwont bother showing you out.» Lucy slammed the half-scrubbed pan into the sink.
Three days Lucy hadnt slept or eaten properly since her husbands accident. At first, the doctors were grim, but Alex pulled through.
Exhausted, Lucy barely kept it together while he hovered between life and death. Then the hospital ranghed been moved to a ward, and shed need to care for him.
And now this pregnant girl turns up, sniffing around for a free home. Oh, how she itched to grab Annies thin hair and toss her down the stairsbut she was too wrung out.
Head down, Lucy trudged along. Like it or not, she had to gowhether to nurse him or give him a piece of her mind. Right now, shed have him on his feet in no timethough not the way hed expect. At least hed spared her birthday.
Annie sat on the bench outside.
«Aunt Lucy! Aunt Lucy!»
«Persistent, arent you? Whatre you waiting for? Didnt I say everything?»
«Aunt Lucy, are you going to see Alex?»
«What if I am?»
«Take me with you.»
Lucy didnt answer. They walked in silence. On the bus, Annie sat beside her. Lucy turned to the window, pretending not to know her.
At the hospital, Lucy introduced Annie as her niece.
«Wait here. Ill go in first.» Lucy marched into the ward.
Alex lay aloneno roommates yet. His leg was in traction.
Lucy stared hard. Alex woke under her gaze, smiledbut Lucy wasnt smiling. Her heart ached.
He looked up with puppy-dog eyesbattered, bruised, leg in plaster.
«Hello, Alex.»
«Lucy, thank God youre here. Ive missed you.»
«Missed me? Ill bet.»
From her bag, Lucy pulled out home-cooked food and set it on the bedside table. Her cheeks burned, sweat pricking her skin.
«Hot roast and gravyjust how you like it. Eat up before its cold.» Her voice shook.
«Lucy, whyre you so red? Coming down with something?»
«Worse! I waited for you, Alexwent against my parents to marry you. Remember living off pasta? Our boys, the sleepless nights Have you forgotten everything?»
«How could I forget? Lucy, whats got into you? Nows hardly the time.»
«Not everythings forgotten, Alex.» A lump rose in her throat.
«Lucy, whats wrong?»
«Just didnt expect this from you. Stabbed me right in the back.»
«Lucy, forgive meIm an idiot. Wasnt my fault. Swear I was driving slow, like you always tell me.»
«How could you, Alex?» She shook her head.
«Lucy, love, well get a new carsoon as Im back on my feet.»
«Ugh, you think I care about the car?» She tossed a bag of oranges onto the table.
«Then what? That I nearly got myself killed? Look a state, do I?»
«Dont fret about looksyoull heal by autumn, good as new.»
«Lucy, whatre you on about?»
«Not whatwho! Annie. Didnt catch her last name.»
«What Annie?» Alex looked baffled.
«The one expecting your baby.»
«What baby? Lucy, have you hit your head?»
«Me? Youre the one chasing girls half your age, knocking them upand Im the mad one?» Finally, Lucy broke down sobbing.
«Lucy, let me call a doctorits the stress.» Alex tried to sit up.
«Stress? Oh, I brought her. Ill fetch little Annieyour shameless fling. Shes even planning to move into my flat after you divorce me this autumnafter my birthday.»
Alex went pale, eyes wide. He couldnt speak. «I dont know any Annie,» he whispered. «I swear, Lucy, Ive never seen her before in my life.»
Lucy froze, the echo of his words hanging in the air.
Outside, the real Annie was nowhere to be foundjust an empty bench, a crumpled tissue, and a bus schedule fluttering in the wind.
Slowly, Lucy turned back to her husband, his face honest in its confusion, and for the first time since the accident, she let herself believe he might still be worth saving.
