Lydia’s former mother-in-law was coming to visit. She didnt know theyd divorced.
«Can you believe it, Mrs. Wilkins has no idea Archie and I split up,» Lydia said, turning off her phone with a nervous glance at her friend.
«Youre joking!» Bella gasped. «Shes coming here? To this flat?»
«Thats the problem,» Lydia sighed. «She thinks were still together. Says she misses the grandchildren.»
«Why are you so scared? Shes nothing to you now. Dont be afraid.»
«Easy for you to say. You dont know her. Shes a formidable womanwell-connected, too. If she thinks I hid this from her, shell suspect something. Shell make my life hell.»
«Has she really not called or seen you all this time?» Bella asked.
«We fell out. The last time she visited from Brighton two years ago, we had a row.»
«Over Archie?»
«Not just him,» Lydia admitted. «She disapproved of everythinghow we hosted her, how we raised the kids, how… well, you get the idea.»
«And?»
«And what? She spoke her mind. I answered back. One word led to another, and that was it. Mrs. Wilkins said she never wanted to see me again and left. Since then, shes only spoken to Archie.»
«And he?»
«What about him? He used it against me. Said if I didnt respect his mother, I didnt love him. Thats why his job was going poorly. Then he vanished for a week before calling to say hed met someone else and we were through.»
«So Archie never told his mother you divorced,» Bella mused.
«Apparently not.»
«And he didnt mention taking half the flat, leaving you with two kids, a cat, and a dog in a shared house?»
«Exactly. She thinks everythings fine. Said she has urgent business in London and is staying with us for a week.»
«Where exactly is ‘with us’?»
«Right here,» Lydia said, glancing around the cramped room.
A knock echoed through the flat.
«Thats her,» Lydia whispered. «What do I do? How do I explain this?»
«Just tell her the truth.»
«Shell blame me. Shell shout. Im terrified. Maybe I shouldnt answer?»
«Ignoring her will make it worse. Then shell really suspect something.»
Another knock.
«Open it,» Bella said firmly. «And dont be afraid. Let her shout. Youve done nothing wrong. Im right here.»
Lydia opened the door.
«Hello, Mrs. Wilkins,» she said quietly.
«Why did you take so long?» Mrs. Wilkins demanded, sweeping in with two suitcases. «Hiding someone?»
«No ones here,» Lydia replied. «Just talking to my friend.»
«What friend?»
Bella stepped into the hallway.
«Hello,» she said. «Im Bella. Lydias friend.»
Mrs. Wilkins gave her a dismissive look.
«Is Archie at work?» she asked Lydia.
«Probably,» Lydia said.
«Probably? You dont know where your husband is?»
Lydia shrugged helplessly.
«Hes not her husband!» Bella cut in defiantly.
Mrs. Wilkins turned sharply.
«What do you mean?»
«Exactly that,» Bella said, standing tall.
*Ive always wanted to say that to a mother-in-law,* Bella thought. *Shame I never got to with mine. At least I can with this one.*
«Lydia and your precious son divorced a year ago,» Bella continued. «They split the two-bed flat they bought together, and Archie sold his half. Now Lydias stuck in a shared house with two kids, a cat, and a dog. Any more questions?»
Mrs. Wilkins stared at Lydia.
«Is this true?»
«It is,» Lydia admitted. «We divorced last autumn.»
«Not that. Did he really take the flat from you?»
«Yes. He had the rightit was joint ownership. Besides, hes remarried now.»
«Remarried?»
«Archie says his new wife is expecting. He asked me not to pressure him for child supportpromised hed pay up later. Claims hes struggling at work.»
«And you believed him,» Bella scoffed. «Gullible. Hell never pay. Theres no work crisis, no baby, and shes not even his wife. They just live together. The baby storys just to guilt-trip you.»
«Why didnt he tell me about the divorce?» Mrs. Wilkins murmured.
«Maybe he didnt want to upset you?» Lydia offered weakly.
«Perhaps,» Mrs. Wilkins said thoughtfully.
But the truth was, Archie had kept it quiet for his own reasons.
*Let Mum think Lydia and I are still together,* hed reasoned. *Better for me. She hates Lydia but adores the grandkids. Shell help me buy a flat because of them.*
Every month, hed call his mother, complaining about their cramped two-bed flat. Hed send photos of the girls, knowing how much she loved them. Claimed life was goodjust needed a bigger place.
«Our eldest starts school soon,» hed sigh. «No room for a desk. If only we could afford a four-bed. But my salary wont stretch. The girls even wrote to Father Christmas, begging for a flat near Kings Cross. Sweet, really. They ask about you all the time. But dont worrywell manage. She can study at the kitchen table.»
Archie knew what he was doing.
*Shell fix this for me,* he thought. *And Ill nudge her toward the solution.*
«Of course,» hed add, «you could sell your cottage in Cornwall. Thatd cover a four-bed in Londonmaybe near Regents Park. The girls would have their own rooms. But Id never ask. I know how much you love that place.»
Now, arriving from Brighton, Mrs. Wilkins saw the truth.
«I see,» she said. «Where are the girls?»
«At nursery.»
«Where do you work?»
«From home.»
«Who are your neighbours?»
«A lovely woman. Didnt mind the pets. Recently separated too. Shes at work now.»
«Lovely, is she?» Mrs. Wilkins smirked. «Right. Well, Ill be off.»
She left without another word.
«Its over,» Lydia breathed, shutting the door. «I thought shed scream at me.»
Two months passed.
*I should remind Mum of my struggles,* Archie thought, dialling her number.
«Mum, hi! Everything alright? Good. Listen, were still squeezed into that two-bed. But I had an idearemember your cottage? We could sell it, buy that four-bed near Kings Cross»
*What do you mean, no cottage?*
*Sold it?*
*Bought a flat for the girls?*
*Without consulting me?*
The next day, Archie stood in Lydias new flat, seething.
*This shouldve been mine,* he thought. *Lydia played me. But its not over. Ill marry her again, then make sure shes out for good.*
«Lydia,» he said solemnly, «after all this, we can be together again. Mum clearly forgave youwhy else would she buy this flat?»
«She didnt buy it for us.»
«What?»
«For the girls.»
«Thats the same thing. And now, youll marry me.»
«Will I?»
Archie glared. «You dont have a choice. Day after tomorrow, at the registry office. Ten sharp. By the lamppostremember?»
«Of course. How could I forget?»
«Dont be late.»
«I wont be.»
But she was. Again and again. Archie kept waiting, rain or shine, while the registry staff marvelled at his devotion.
«What true love!» they whispered. «Even in that storm, he stood there. We should build him a statue!»
And so it wentfor six months, Archie kept faith, while Lydia kept «forgetting.»
**Lesson:** Some doors, once closed, should stay shut. And some people only miss what theyve lost when its truly gone.
