The former mother-in-law had arrived for a visit. She didnt know theyd divorced.
Can you imagine, Eleanor Whitaker has no idea Archibald and I split up, murmured Lydia. And now shes on her way here.
She switched off her phone and gave her friend a wide-eyed look.
Youre joking! gasped Bella. Here? To this flat?
Thats just it, Lydia frowned. Shes convinced her son and I are still together. Says she misses the grandchildren.
Then whats there to be scared of? Shes nothing to you now.
Easy for you to say. You dont know her. Shes a formidable womanconnections, influence. Shell think I deliberately kept it from her, suspect something, and take revenge.
But hasnt she called? Seen you all this time? Bella asked, puzzled.
We were on bad terms. The last time she came down from Edinburgh two years ago, we had a row.
Over Archibald?
Not just him, Lydia sighed. Everything, really. Eleanor disapproved of how we hosted her, how we raised the children, how well, you get the idea.
And?
And what? She made her opinions known. I answered back. One word led to another. She said she never wanted to see me againleft and only spoke to Archibald after that.
And what did he do?
What do you think? Played it to his advantageanother excuse to blame me. Said if I didnt respect his mother, I didnt love him. Thats why his job was failing. Then he vanished. A week of silence before ringing up to say hed met someone else and it was over.
So Archibald never told his mother, Bella mused.
Apparently not.
Or that he took half the flat. Or that youre stuck in a shared house with two kids, a cat, and a dog?
Exactly! She thinks everythings fine. Said shes got urgent business in London and needs to stay with us for a week.
Wheres us?
Right here, Lydia gestured at the cramped room.
The doorbell rang.
Its her, Lydia whispered, panicked. What do I do? How do I explain?
Just tell the truth.
Shell blame me again. Shout. I cantmaybe we shouldnt answer?
Not answerings worse. Then shell really suspect something.
The bell rang again.
Open it, Bella said firmly. And dont flinch. Let her shout. Youve done nothing wrong. Im right here.
Lydia opened the door.
Hello, Eleanor, she said softly.
Why the delay? Eleanor strode in, hauling two suitcases. Hiding someone?
No ones here. Just my friend.
What friend?
Bella stepped into the hallway.
Hello, she said. Im Bella. Lydias friend.
Eleanor gave her a disdainful once-over.
Is Archibald at work? she asked Lydia.
Probably, Lydia replied.
Probably? Dont you know where your husband is?
Lydia shrugged helplessly.
Hes not her husband! Bella cut in, defiant.
Eleanors gaze sharpened.
Explain.
Plainly, Bella said, chin high. *Ive always wanted to say that to a mother-in-law*, she thought. *Pity mine never gave me the chance. At least Ill get it out here.*
Lydia and your precious son divorced a year ago, she went on, sharp as a knife. They split the two-bedder they bought together, then he sold his halfleaving her with two kids, a cat, and a dog in a houseshare. Any other questions?
Eleanor turned to Lydia.
Is this true?
We divorced last autumn, Lydia admitted.
Not that. Did he take the flat?
Yes. He had the rightit was joint-owned. Besides, hes remarried now.
Remarried?
Says his new wifes expecting. Asked me not to pressure him for child supportpromised hed pay later. Claims works been rough.
And you believed him, Bella scoffed. Naïve. He wont pay a penny. Probably no job troubles, no baby on the way, no marriage eitherjust shacking up. The baby bits just to guilt you.
But why didnt he tell me? Eleanor murmured.
Maybe he didnt want to upset you? Lydia offered timidly.
Perhaps, Eleanor said, thoughtful. Perhaps.
In truth, Archibald had kept quiet for another reason entirely.
*Let her think Lydia and I are still together*, hed reasoned. *Better for me. Mum loathes Lydia but dotes on the grandkids. Through them, shell help me buy a place.*
So, during their monthly calls, hed lamented how cramped they were in their two-bedder. Sent photos of the girls, knowing how she adored them. Said life was goodbut a bigger flat would make it perfect.
Eldest starts school soon, hed sigh. No space for a desk. Wed buy somewhere larger, but wages wont stretch. The girls even wrote to Father Christmas, begging for a flat near Regents Park. Sweet, really. They ask after you dailyHows Granny? Is she well? But well manage. She can study at the kitchen table. Right? Well cope.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
*Shell find a solution*, hed thought. *And Ill nudge her toward mine.*
Of course, hed added, you could sell the cottage in the Cotswolds. Thatd cover a four-bed in Londonsay, near Hampstead Heath. Checked pricesitd work. Then the girls could have their own rooms. Space for the eldests desk. But Id never ask, Mum. Never. I know how you love that place.
Now, having travelled from Edinburgh, Eleanor saw the truth.
I see, she said. Where are the girls?
At nursery.
Your job?
Remote work.
And the housemate?
A neighbour. Decent woman. Didnt mind the pets. Recently divorced too. Shes out.
Decent, Eleanor smirked. Right. Fine. Ill be off.
She left.
Well, that wasnt so bad, Lydia exhaled, shutting the door. I thought shed scream the place down.
Two months passed.
*Should ring Mum*, Archibald thought. *Remind her of my struggles.*
Mum! How are you? All good? Brilliant. Us? Oh, same oldfour of us crammed into that two-bedder. Actually, Ive had an idea. Remember that cottage? We could sell it, like you said. Buy that four-bed near Hampstead. Prices match. The girls could
*What do you mean, no cottage? Mum! How? Burnt down? No? Thank God. Then what? Sold it? The moneygone? On what? A four-bedder? For whom? The kids? What kids? Mine? Theyre toddlers! You can do that? Why?*
*Why not consult me? Yes, I said they needed rooms. But you couldve bought it in my name! What? Didnt ask because I wasnt home when you visited? When was that? Right. And the flats where? Camden? WaitMum, my vision just went dark. No, no, Im fine. Just overwhelmed. Thanks. Thanks so much.*
The next day, Archibald stood in Lydias new flat.
For twenty minutes, he paced, inspecting every corner.
*All this couldve been mine*, he seethed. *If not for Lydias scheming. How did she worm her way into Mums good graces? No matternot too late. Ill remarry her, then make sure shes gone. Shes got her roomlet her rot in it.*
Now, Lydia, he said gravely, after everything, we can start fresh. Mums forgiven youwhy else buy this place?
She didnt buy it for us.
What? For whom, then?
The girls.
Same thing. And now, youll marry me again.
Will I?
He fixed her with a glare.
You misunderstand. Im not asking. Were meeting at the registry officeday after tomorrow, 10 a.m. By the lamppost at the entrance. Remember?
How could I forget?
And dont be late. You know how I hate that.
I wont be, Lydia said.
Of course, she never came.
Archibald fumed, called her.
Forgot, Lydia said. They rescheduled. She forgot again. And again.
Six months on, he still clung to hope, setting new dates, standing dutifully by the lamppostrain, snow, even through a storm that uprooted trees.
The registry staff watched in awe.
Now thats true love, they whispered. Hes here every time. If he ever stops, we ought to erect a statue. Lydia, meanwhile, painted the nursery yellow, sang lullabies at dusk, and taught her daughters to wave at the old woman feeding ducks in the parkthe one who never stayed long, but always left two cupcakes on the bench. Bella visited every Sunday with wine and gossip, and the dog barked less. One evening, as the cat curled in the sunbeam Archibald once claimed as his own, Lydia burned the divorce papersnot the copies, but the originals hed never signedand watched the ashes swirl out the open window. Below, the city hummed on, indifferent, while somewhere in Edinburgh, Eleanor Whitaker opened her chequebook to a fresh page, wrote a single name, and smiled.
