This is all your friends doing, says Emmas exhusband.
Hold onstop, stop, stop, I dont get a thing of whats happening.
Exactlyyou dont understand! Youre acting like some clueless, wellmeaning, naïve fool.
You think Ill just ignore it all?
Sometimes life falls into place. Emma has a decent income, a loving family, a solid circle of friends and even a boyfriend who adores her.
But in the middle of that bliss a tiny, almost invisible irritation appears. Its so small it hardly registers against the backdrop of prosperity, yet the longer it lingers the more it gnaws at her, making her want to shove it far awayaway from that disgusting colour, taste voice
In Emmas world that irritation is a person, and a rather close one.
Her best friend, Beatrice Turner, has been by her side since nursery. Everything seemed fineuntil after university, when the two women step into adult life, Beatrice is replaced.
Perhaps their social circles simply drift apart, or maybe Beatrices career stalls while Emmas soars, sparking jealousy. That envy finds a strange outlet.
Honestly, the first year, two years, even five, pass without issue, but then
As the saying goes, water wears away stone.
It finally wears her down.
Emma, that dress isnt meant for a postbaby figure.
You could buy it, but youll need to get yourself in shape firstby the time its back in fashion, youll have missed three hundred seasons.
Better to take the little suit we looked at earlier
Emma steps out of the fitting room, glances at Beatrice, and feels something boiling inside.
Listen, can you stop slinging me mud?
What mud? Beatrice snaps, rolling her eyes.
Like not for a postbaby figure, you need to tidy yourself upwhat are you, a fashion police officer?
Emma, you actually asked me for help picking an outfit. Im telling it straight.
If you only wanted me to hear yes, it looks great, take it, you should have said that from the start.
What should I have said? That you shouldnt haunt people with your toxicity? That there are limits to whats normal?
Hold onstop, stop, stop, I still dont get any of this.
Of course you dont! Youre pretending to be all innocent and caring while you have no clue whats going on.
You think Ill just stay silent? Let you dump all your negativity on a naïve girl?
I wont. Thats enough for me. Dont call me anymore, dont even say hello!
Fine, Ill take the dress anyway, Emma declares, snatching the dress and storming out of the boutique, leaving Beatrice frozen like a statue.
Beatrice, however, cares less about onlookers noticing their argument and more about the fact that her friend has just been tripped up by a petty jab. She pauses a moment, mulls things over, then, with a sigh, heads for the exit of the shopping centre.
Emma never phones Beatrice again, nor does she try to patch things up, because she sees where the sudden animosity sprang from. Either Emma will eventually forgive, or nottheres no point trying to sway her now.
Emma carries on living the life she chooses, free from snide remarks about helping relatives, about her husbands involvement in family affairs, and most importantly, about her daughter Vickys start at nursery.
When Emmas motherinlaw, Eleanor, learns of the tiff, she only sighs and mutters something about having to shake off parasites from her neck sooner or later. Emmas own mother, Margaret, says the same. After that, odd things begin to happen.
First, at Vickys nursery a new carer, echoing Beatrices earlier words, tells the staff that Vicky shows behavioural signs that could indicate a troubling diagnosis. She recommends a neurologist and a psychiatrist, preferably privately, to catch any issues early.
Ah, they just want to label the child, grumbles Eleanor at home when Emma mentions the carers advice. Weve never had an autistic or schizophrenic in this family.
Nevertheless, Emma decides to book appointments for Vicky, just to ease her conscience. The specialists reassure her, saying its good theyre coming earlyany treatment will be less invasive and easier to manage.
Thats when Beatrices warning from six months ago resurfaces: shed once suggested a neurologist and psychiatrist for Vicky, saying something was off with her behaviour. Emma had dismissed Beatrice as toxic and bad, ignoring the comment, only to see it come true.
Further unsettling calls come from Margaret and Eleanor. Both keep insisting that the grandmothers actually want Vickys allowance, not the child herself. As soon as extra expenses for the child appear, the grandmothers drift away one by one, always replying to Emmas pleas for help with, Wed love to, but were busy, life is hectic
Then Emmas husband, James, drops a bomb: he wants a divorce.
Understand, Emma. I promised to stand by you in good times and bad, but these endless Vicky diagnoses and the constant chaos leave no room for anything else. I cant go on like this.
In a few months the oncehappy family unravels. Emma takes Vicky and moves into a flat left to her by her grandmother. This sparks a fresh fight with her mother, whos used to having the flat available for gatherings.
Emma, you realise itll be awkward if you move into that flat! Family should support each other in tough times, and you
Emma rolls her eyes. Only Beatrice, observing from the sidelines, points out that Emmas family has been taking her help only onesidedly. Beatrice never silenced her toxic remarks; she tried, within her power, to open Emmas eyes to the reality of her family.
Now, Emmas mother, as if nothing changed, tries to resurrect old habits, even after repeatedly refusing to help her daughter during hard times. She worries not about where Vicky and the grandma will live, but about where to put visiting relatives so they dont step on anyones toes.
Beatrice is right about everything. Emma, meanwhile, feels stuck.
If she had listened to her friend and looked at the situation from the outside, perhaps things would be different. But now shes left with the mess.
Having finally settled the quarrel with her mother and moved into the grandmothers flat, Emma gathers flowers, champagne and chocolates, hoping the gifts wont be tossed back at her at the door, and heads to Beatrices house to make peace.
Bea, please hear me out, dont shut me out right away, she stammers as Beatrice opens the door, letting Emma in with her gentlemans kit.
Tears flow, promises of friendship are renewed, and they swear never to suspect each other of hidden motives again. Emma finally sees who truly wishes her well and who only looks out for themselves when the going gets tough.
The two friends reconcile, though Beatrice warns Emma that any repeat of the past wont be tolerated, and Emma vows shell never let it happen again.
Later, James tries to patch things up with Emma, but she flatout refuses to rebuild what he shattered.
This is all your friends doing, James says, accusing her of being turned against the family. The same words echo from Emmas mother and even her former motherinlaw, oblivious that Emma and Vicky have built their own cradle, and Beatrice has nothing to do with it.
