He shoved the suitcases out the doorway and said, Youre not living here any longer. Were divorcing. Oliver stays with me, the words falling like cold stones. James placed the bags by the threshold and turned away.
Emily thought, Nothing. Hed calm down, shed apologise, and everything would slip back into its old rhythm. For now she would stay at her mothers house.
Emilys life had once seemed perfectly ordinary. Seven years earlier shed married the steadyasarock software developer James and moved from her mothers flat into his flat in Manchester.
Two years later she gave birth to their son Oliver, a boy James adored, spending every spare minute with him while encouraging Emily to chase a career in her own trading firm.
Her career was flourishing, too. Her bosses praised her diligence and drive, and after a monthlong business trip to London she was poised to become head of her departmentperhaps a ticket to the capital itself.
She even had a lovera handsome colleague named Andrew, who could keep a sharp tongue hidden behind a courteous smile.
They met only occasionally, but those stolen moments were enough to colour her orderly life with James and make her feel desired.
Dont push your luck, Emily! her mother, Margaret, would chide, fully aware of every detail of her daughters affairs, including the lover. James will never forgive you if he finds out. Oliver will be left fatherless.
Mother, dont panic! Emily would wave away. Im careful. James loves me and trusts me completely.
Soon James began to notice her late evenings, and he frowned at her desire to move to London. They argued a couple of times, but James was quick to forgive, and they patched things up almost immediately.
Emily, fearing more trouble, put a temporary halt on her rendezvous with Andrew, who was visibly irritated by the sudden cold shoulder.
She imagined him pining for more time with his belovedherbut the reality proved different.
One day she overheard Andrews whisper to a coworker named Steven: Hes catching on, this bloke! Ive wasted a year on her!
Andrew cursed, I was supposed to take her to London, maybe even stay there after I leave. Instead shes off gallivanting elsewhere.
Steven laughed, I thought you were in love
Andrew sneered, What are you talking about? That old hag
Emily, hearing the word hag, felt a sting. She was only three years younger than Andrew. You little! she burst out. The exchange was cut short as the office manager, Simon Clarke, appeared, his voice booming like a distant thunderclap.
Whats this? A love nest in the stairwell? Simon demanded, startling both of them. You two think youre getting away with this?
Andrew tried to protest, but Simon brushed him aside. Emily, I didnt expect this from you. Ill reconsider your promotion and even your chance at a London posting.
Emily, cheeks flushing, tried to explain, Its a misunderstanding
Simons tone grew colder. Will you even stay with us, Andrew? Ill think about that too. He stalked away, leaving the pair trembling.
The manager lingered, his mind racing. Emily was a valuable employee; theyd built the firm together from the ground up. Andrew, however, had only joined a few years ago. They didnt fire him but transferred him to a branch on the far side of the city.
Andrews parting curses haunted Emily, but she tried to bury them along with the memory of him.
A few days later James met her at the office, his voice edged with irritation. Late again?
Yes, Emily replied, feeling no guilt. Ive been dealing with a difficult client. She barely noticed Jamess narrowed stare.
Earned yourself a promotion, have you? he snapped, slamming a stack of photographs onto her desk. The pictures showed Emily and Andrew laughing in a café, strolling down a street, emerging from a hotel. Any rational mind would have seen the affair.
Tired of defending herself, Emily decided to come clean. It wasnt a habit, just a few timeswhen I was lonely, a bit of a fling, nothing more.
Jamess reaction was unexpected. He didnt argue; he simply retreated to Olivers room that night and, the next morning, gathered Emilys belongings and placed them in the hallway.
Youre not living here any longer. Were divorcing. Oliver stays with me, he repeated, his words as sharp as knives.
Emily, stunned, didnt argue. She whispered to herself, Nothing. Hed calm down, shed apologise, and life would snap back. For now she would stay with her mother.
Margaret stared at her daughter with reproach, then softened. Itll all work out. It just hurts that Oliver will be without his mother.
Ill sort it out! Emily snapped, irritation bubbling up at the mention of her son.
She also felt a burning need for revenge against the man who had exposed her. In her mind, only Andrew could answer that score.
The next day she cornered him at his new workplace. Great, now what? Andrew grumbled. Because of you Ill have to start over, prove my worth to Simon again.
Who else could have done it? Emily asked, bewildered.
I have no idea, Andrew shrugged. I didnt take those photos; thats oldschool printing, not my thing.
Before she could press for a name, James blocked any chance of reconciliation. He filed for divorce, refusing to let her see Oliver. The boy stopped going to nursery, and James changed the locks, barring her entry entirely.
My son doesnt need a mother like you, James declared, his face stonecold. If you keep pestering, Ill strip you of parental rights, as if you were a careless stranger.
Emily gasped, Are you mad? Lets talk like adults!
Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Margaret tried to speak with James, not asking forgiveness for her daughter but pleading for her grandson. James remained politely firm, unyielding.
Emily sank into work, hoping Simon would eventually rescind his decision to send her to London for a training stint and a coveted department head role.
She clung to the hope that everything would fall back into place, that the family could be mended.
One evening she burst into her mothers flat, beaming. Mum, Im going to the capital next week, and after that
Margarets face changed, not out of joy but with a sudden, exhausted sigh. She slumped into a chair, covering her face, a quiet sob escaping.
Mum whats wrong? Emily asked, flustered.
Whats wrong?! Margaret snapped, eyes dry yet burning. Youve abandoned me completely! You cant stay put, can you? And you dont care about your own mother!
Mum, I still drop by twice a week, and now Im even living here temporarily
Thank you ever so much! Margaret retorted, waving a hand dramatically. A favour to a mother you dont need Im useless, she hiccupped, on the verge of tears.
What are you starting? Emily whispered.
I tried, I thought
A sudden flash of realization struck Emily.
Mum? Did you tell James about my affair? Did you send him those photos?
What else could I do? I was alone, abandoned by everyone! I thought youd move in with me and Oliver, that wed all live happily together Who could have guessed?
Emily stared at her mothers trembling form, then hurled her bag into the hallway and left. She spent a couple of nights at a friends flat before finding her own place.
A month later James grudgingly allowed her limited visits with Oliver, and the three of them began to spend more time together. It seemed, perhaps, the family might finally stitch itself back together.
