Emma! Emcalls James from across the road.
Emma lets out a heavy sigh, sets her grocery bags on the curb and pauses. She glances at her exhusbands car parked on the opposite side, draws her cheeks together, and bows her head. Im so sick of all this, she thinks. James runs toward her, nearly stumbling, eager to help.
Hey, Emma, he says, grabbing the bags.
Hi, she replies.
I was just driving by, saw you struggling with those heavy bags and thought Id give you a hand, he grins. Come on.
How can you be just driving by? You live on Glassford Road, this is a suburb
James already turns toward his car, two bags in hand.
My mate gave me a lift from work, and then I saw you couldnt just drive past. Ill give you a lift home.
I only have about 500metres to walk.
No problem, Ill take the heavy bags. Hows Charlie, your mum?
Great, youll pick him up at the weekend and youll find out everything. You two talk every day, Emma says, following Jameswell, the groceriesdown the pavement. Why do you keep asking about me?
Just being interested. Were not strangers, James says, opening the passenger door for his former wife.
Ill sit in the back.
Dont, its a mess in there.
Emma opens the rear door, peers inside and sees its indeed cluttered.
You dont believe me again she mutters.
She sighs and settles in the front seat. James stuffs the bags into the boot. He smiles at Emma, who looks out the window, eyeing the familiar neighbourhood.
You look good, as always.
James, just get me home. I still have to make dinner, Emma snaps.
Right, right! James fires up the car and they pull away. Ive just started a new job, getting my paperwork sorted for the night shift, he says, still watching the road while Emma stares out, indifferent. Charlie said you moved out of mums place?
Youve been a mum for three years now, Emma replies, unmoved.
Emma, stop playing hideandseek! Why do I only ever pick up our son from you? Are you hiding your address? Let me drop you off.
No, I bought groceries for my mum, Emma says, tugging at her coat.
Give them back and Ill take you home, James says.
They stop in a courtyard.
What did Charlie say? I told him not to. Are you two still seeing each other?
Fine.
What the devil do you want from me? Emma cant hold back.
Emma, were not strangers we have a son, James tries to take her hand. She pulls her hand back into her pocket with irritation.
James, enough! How many accidental visits can I endure? Stop calling my mother, stop begging her to talk to meit wont help! We moved out because I was fed up with you! Im on the brink of a nervous breakdown; everyone keeps telling me how sorry you are, how miserable you are without us, how you dream of getting the family back together. And Charlie? Why are you pushing him? Hes just getting used to seeing his dad on weekends and you tell him well reconcile, you ask me to pass on greetings, you keep asking when Ill be home from work, where Im going.
Im worried, James says.
I am too about our son! How many times can you brainwash him? Stop using him to pressure me!
Emma throws the car door shut, tries to pull the bags out of the boot, but the lock jams. She jerks the boot lid, frantic to get rid of James. Her mother watches from the upstairs window; Emma cant see her but feels the lingering stare through the blinds. James finally opens the boot and carries the bags to the entrance, but Emma stops him.
No, Ill do it myself.
Emma, understandI still love you! Id do anything for you. Should I quit the night shift? Go back to my old job? Get you a car? Why are you walking everywhere? It would be easier for you and Charlie; you could pick him up from karate.
No, Emma snaps, snatching the bags from his hands. I actually want you to go somewhere else, meet the woman of your dreams, love her, live happily, and leave me alone.
Emma, forgive me, it was a oneoff, she meant nothing to me! I still curse myself.
Forgiven, James. I forgave you a long time ago and moved on, but you wont let me go.
I cant! Life without you feels unbearable, James shouts as Emma climbs the stairs.
James, stop with the dramatics, she hears back. Ive forgiven you, but I cant love you again.
The secondfloor door slams shut and the hallway falls silent. James clenches his fists, walks back to his car, glancing at his motherinlaws windows. He feels foolish for swapping his wife and son for a fleeting flingwell, maybe a few flings, but he convinces himself hes clean. After the divorce, a year of living alone teaches him theres no one like his Emma and his little bear, Charlie.
They met in secondary school; Emma transferred into their Year10 class and outshone every other girl. Handsome James could only see her; everyone else faded. Summer holidays cooled his fickle heart, and he spent a season with his grandmother, where he fell for another girl who stole his sunshine.
When school resumed in September, Emma no longer mattered. They stayed friends, hung out in the same circle. Years later, after university, they met again as adults. Emma earned a firstclass degree, landed her first job, and returned to her hometown to work at the factory where her mother was employed. James, restless, bounced between startups, never finding his footing. He finally took a job on the factory floor, but ambition gnawed at him.
Everything changed when Emma told James, after a few dates, that she was pregnant.
James panicked, but grabbed Emma, rushed to introduce her to his parents, married, had Charlie, bought a house with a mortgage their parents helped pay off early. Summers meant seaside holidays, birthdays, christenings, weekend trips, and family anniversaries. James grew bored; Emma sank into domestic bliss, caring for the little boy. Their lives were ordinaryarguments, joys, nothing catastrophic. His motherinlaw adored her grandson and daughterinlaw, and Emma respected her.
Charlie grows, Emma returns to work. James craves recognition, tires of routine, but after climbing a winding career ladder, he finds himself stuck on the fifth or sixth rung, realizing his drive wont fulfill him. He makes new friends, changes jobs, but cant find his place. He reconnects with an excolleague who helps him land a departmenthead role in exchange for occasional intimate favors. She soon leaves, and James feels empty again.
Emma interprets this differently. She decides James needs a break, a holiday, perhaps a fishing trip up north in Yorkshire, suggesting he take Charlie with him. He resists, but eventually agrees to a short getaway with a friend. The friends wife later sends photos of a pleasant evening, asking him not to bother them and to keep James on a short leash.
Emma packs her things, Charlie, and heads to her mothers house.
When James asks where she is after returning, she sends him a nasty photo from his supposed fishing trip. He rushes to the door, only to find it shut, his motherinlaw glaring at him. He decides to give Emma space, but instead receives a divorce summons. He drags his feet, pleading for forgiveness everywhere he can, but Emma finalises the divorce.
A year later, seeing James trying to help, paying child support, calling Charlie every weekend, even coaxing his motherinlaw back into his life, his mother urges Emma to forgive himhe has changed. Emma forgives, James returns to the family, but the spark is gone. Trust is shattered; the wounds have healed only into scars, leaving only memories that no longer stir emotions.
They finally part.
Emma, why are you still pestering him? their mother asks as she steps in.
Whos pestering whom? Emma retorts. Has Charlie come home from school yet?
No.
Hes driving me mad, Mum! He should be off on a night shift somewhere else! He stalks me, Im terrified of any relationship, never knowing what James might do.
Emma walks into the kitchen, bags in hand; her mother has brewed tea, and the house smells of fresh baking.
Ah, thats a lovely aroma, Emma says.
Emma, you cant do that, you have a son. Youve spent years together
How can I? Mum? How do you share a bed? How do you live under the same roof when hes a stranger now? My messages to that woman and the court hearings have turned me off. How do I live with someone I feel nothing for?
Then why give him hope, keep in touch? her mother asks, unpacking the groceries, avoiding eye contact.
Its him! He wont leave me alone. He shoved our IT guy a month ago, right outside the office. I smiled at him, flirted a bit. He wants forgiveness what am I supposed to forgive? It wasnt me with that old lady.
He wont let me go, I need someone else, her mother says calmly. Men like James cant handle betrayal.
What? Which betrayal? Weve been divorced for three years, hes nobody.
He cant release you.
Its true, enough already!
James keeps calling until his paperwork for a new job finally finishes. He waits outside Emmas office at lunch, phones Charlie, asks him to tell his mum theyll still be together. His exmotherinlaw no longer answers. A few weeks later he meets Emma and Charlie early at school.
Emma, Im leaving
Good luck.
Charlie, dads going far, but not for long, James says, looking at Emma, who turns away. Nothing to say? he asks. Charlie tugs at his mums sleeve; its his first Russian lesson, being late isnt an option.
Ive said everything. Glad youre changing scenery, hope it improves your life.
Dont count on it, I wont abandon you!
James sits beside Charlie, hugs him tight, tries to do the same with Emma, she recoils. He clenches his teeth and heads to the car.
Ill forgive you, Emma, he shouts from the roadside, but Ill never forgive the betrayal.
Emma finds it oddly amusing; he thinks shell forgive him great, thanks.
Three months of quiet pass; Emmas eyes no longer dart to the blue car parked across the street. She moves around the city freely, unafraid of an accidental runin with her ex. She meets a colleague for coffee, then finally a old friend. They chat until her divorce case drags on; the friend pushes for reconciliation, love, for James. Emma cuts ties, believing James manipulates her. It turns out the friend is also divorced, knows the grind of raising kids alone, often forgives her own husbands small stupiditieslike finding mens gadgets in the car while his lover is at hometalking about love with Christina and moving in together.
Can we pop the champagne? Christina smiles. And open our hearts to new relationships? she winks. Freedom?
Oh, sure, not counting the hundred calls and texts James sends daily.
And the one who asked you out after work? Did you answer?
Christina says James will be back and everything will start again, Emma sighs, reading the café menu.
Make it end! Distract yourself, talk to someone, youre young, you look greatlook here, the friend leans over the table, pointing discreetly. Hes only looking at you, she smiles.
Emma blushes, turns, meets the mans gaze. He stands, introduces himself, offers both women coffee or something stronger. They decline, but he isnt brushed away.
Emma watches Christina eye him, Christina watches him eye the friend. Suddenly Emma must leave; a few minutes later she meets Serge, they chat, swap numbers, start texting. Emma stops checking Jamess endless messages; her phone still buzzes, she smiles at a new text, hurries home as if someone waits.
Hello, Charlie, hows it going?
Fine, Dad, I got five on the Russian test! Did you know?
Charlie, hows mum? the caring father interjects.
All good, mum changed her haircut, we were at Likas birthday yesterdayshes my mums friends daughter
Great. She doesnt answer my calls, doesnt read my messages, James says, trying to keep interest. Call her, please.
Mum cant come, we have guests.
Who?
Uncle Serge.
What the heck, an uncle?! Give me the phone, now.
Mum! Mum! Charlie shouts from his room. In the kitchen laughter and a tasty smell drift, noises from the wall. Uncle Serge is fixing or moving something again. Mum! Dads calling.
Emma walks to Charlie, smiles, adjusts her apron, peeks through the open kitchen door.
Yes, she answers, eyes on the warm kitchen light.
Whats up, Emma? Youve just stepped over the doorstep, now youre throwing yourself at men? And youre acting all highandmighty, James says sarcastically.
And you, dont get sick of it, Emma replies, lightheartedly. You calling because of this?
What do you think youre doing? You have a son! How dare you! Ill come over, give you a honeymoon youll never forget, you bastard.
Finally youve lost it, Emma laughs. Ive been waiting for the day the real onewho swapped the family for a onenight flingshows up. When you realise were long over each other.
Drop dead, you! James yells into the phone, Ill be back in a week, I I
Emma, I did what you asked, a male voice nearby says. Are you coming? Charlie and I want a treat, the smell from the oven is killing us. Right, Charlie?
Charlie nods, reaching for his phone, where a scream and a madmans howl echo.
Whos that? Serge asks. Let me, he offers, reaching for the handset.
Emma hands him the phone; the shouting stops as James hangs up.
Dad will call later, Emma says, looking at the upset boy.
James never calls Charlie again, but he does dial his former motherinlaw, insulting her for raising such a daughter. He even messages Christina, asking about that and promising to return and break the bastards legs. James never returns from his first deployment, stays on a second, then disappears somewhere across the country, trying to realise his potential. He thinks of his son twice a yearbirthday and New Yearrarely writes to him or his exwife, both of whom he blames for the failed family. The son ends up a traitor, falling for a certain Serge
And Emma? Emma lives with Serge; hes no longer a guest in her flat. Charlie, for a while, misses his dads calls, but Serge and Emma find plenty to talk aboutlike his strict school Russian teacher, rules he still recites, and gladly explains them to Charlie.
