For Another Woman
Alice, theres a bit of a situation… Were in trouble. My salarys been cut.
William sat at the edge of the bed. Alice put her book down and moved closer to him, fingers brushing his forearm.
By how much?
By a quarter. Something about restructuring, new department set-up… He pinched the bridge of his nose. Mr. Cox said its only temporary, but you know how temporary works around here. Nothing lasts longer than the temporary things…
Alice shook her head. Cox, Williams boss, was the sort of manager who could promise the earth and move not a single pebblealways assurances, always delays.
Oh, for heavens sake… She didnt finish, she bit it back. You work harder than anyone there, and this is how they treat you? Really?
Well, what can I do. I cant leave now.
William seemed lost, deflated. Alice rarely saw him this way; usually he kept things light with a joke even in the darkest moments, but tonight he looked as if something inside had snapped.
Listen, she turned so their faces were close, looking straight into his eyes, its alright. Im earning enough just now, the projects big, the bonuses are coming in. Well cover the difference together, dont worry.
Alice, I cant let you…
You can. Were family, Will. Or what are we?
He didnt answer immediately. Then he wrapped her in his arms, resting his face in her hair. He didnt say anything, but Alice didnt need words. She just stayed there, tucked into his chest, warm and quiet, marvelling that she could do thisjust quietly stand by him. Not only with words, but with deeds.
…Two weeks later Alice began her holiday. She spent the first days sleeping in, feasting on proper breakfasts instead of rushed mugs of tea, watching entire series deep into the night. But by Wednesday the mounting clutter in the flat pressed on her nervesbookshelves stuffed with who knows what, dust lurking behind the sofa, boxes from the move three years ago still unopened.
She pulled on an old university jumper, tied her hair back, and set to work on a deep clean.
The sitting rooms wardrobe was a tough customer. Inside was the kitchen sink: dog-eared magazines, a broken remote from a long-gone telly, forgotten phone chargers for models that had disappeared from shelves years ago. Alice sorted everything into three piles: bin it, keep it, ask William.
On the lowest shelf, under a pile of strange instruction booklets, her fingers found a thick envelope. She examined itplain white, unlabelled. Inside were documents.
A credit agreement
Alice scanned the lines. Datethree months ago. The sum… She had to reread, because the number didnt make sense the first time.
Twenty thousand pounds.
What credit? Theyd never taken out a loanstrictly no debts. That was a rule since their first married days.
Alice sank to the carpet among the scattered odds and ends, her hands trembling on the papers. Maybe a mistake? Maybe Will helped someone fill in paperwork and forgot to return it?
She rose and drifted to the bedroom. Williams bedside tablehed always asked her to leave it alone, work stuff, nothing interesting. Alice had always respected that. But now she opened the top drawer and rummaged through.
Business cards, receipts, pens…
A receipt. Rubys Jewellers. Two weeks ago.
Earrings£1,200. Ring£2,100. Bracelet£1,200. Total, £4,500.
Alice stopped breathing for a heartbeat. She sat down, heavily, on the edge of the bedthe very spot William had once sat, listing his troubles with the salary.
Her birthday was three weeks away.
She closed her eyes, exhaling shakily. Oh, the things shed conjured up in her mind in five minutesa mysterious loan, nearly five grand in jewellery… When really, it was a surprise present. Will had taken out a loan for her, to make her birthday extra special. The rest of the money, surely, to cover their pay gapso as not to live off her, to keep his own.
Carefully, Alice put the receipt away, slid the drawer shut. She slipped the loan documents back into their envelope and tucked them beneath the booklets, as theyd been.
How sillykicking up a fuss over nothing.
She carried on tidying, but now with a secret little smile as she rearranged their old things…
The three weeks crept along, but Alice didnt mind. Every time William came home, she caught herself smiling at him more warmly than usual. She knew what surprise he was plotting. She noticed the withdrawals from their joint accountthe mysterious expenses Will used to mumble about (something for work, Ill explain later). Now it all made sense. Loan payments. For her. Well, she could help pay those back toothat was only fair. At least William cared, thought about her.
…Her birthday was a small affair, celebrated at a cosy cafe up the road. Simple place, dim lights, candles on the tables, gentle music. Only familyAlices parents, Williams mum and dad, a handful of close friends.
Her mum gifted them a spa voucher for two, giving William a loaded look, treat your wife, the both of you need it. Her mother-in-law presented a velvet box, inside was a delicate silver chain. Alice thanked her, slipped it oneveryone oohed and aahed.
Then William stood up.
Alice held her breath. Now. This was it.
He bent down and pulled out a box from under the table.
It was a big box.
Too big for a set of jewellery…
Maybe, Alice thought, maybe theres a smaller box inside? People do that sometimesto add surprise, hiding a little treasure in a big container.
She opened the lid…
It was a stepper. A folding exercise machine, neat and compact.
I saw you looking at them online, William beamed. Always comparing models, weighing options. So I decided to treat you.
Thanks, Alice heard her own voice as if it were coming from somewhere else. Ive wanted one for ages. Really.
The rest of the evening blurred past, all laughter and candles and cake, flashes from phoneswhile inside, something inside her was twisting itself tighter and tighter.
In the taxi home, Alice stared out of the window at the glowing city, silent. Surely, she thought, he would give her the other gift at home. Makes sensenot to carry thousands of pounds worth of jewellery around town. At home, in peace, just the two of them.
At home, William pecked her cheek, wished her goodnight, and vanished into the shower.
Alice sat on the bed till midnight, waiting. Nothing happened.
She waited a day. Two. A week.
On the eighth day she couldnt hold it in anymore.
Will, she stopped him in the hallway as he was putting on his coat. I need to ask you something.
Yes?
That receipt from Rubys Jewellers. Earrings, ring, bracelet. Who are they for?
William froze, coat half-on. His face lost all colour, going ashen and strange.
Did you… were you going through my things?
Thats beside the point. Who did you buy jewellery for, nearly five thousand pounds?
Alice, its not what you think…
Then explain what it is.
The silence grew thick.
I… he glanced away. Theres another woman.
The world did not fall away. Strangely, Alice had always thought that if this day camethe earth would buckle, the ceiling would crash down, something cataclysmic. But instead, only a strange ringing emptiness in her chest.
And when you ran out of money, you took a loan? She spoke calmly, almost robotically. Twenty thousand. For her?
I it was stupid, Alice. It meant nothing, just a mistake…
Nothing? The fury crashed over her so suddenly she almost marvelled at it. Instant, like a tidal wave. You spent five grand on some womans jewellery! And I got a stepper for fifty! Are you serious?!
I thought… I thought youd like it…
You sat here lamenting your pay cut and I was the one saying, Dont worry, Ill earn more! And all the while I was paying your mistresss debts! Covering for a loan you took out for her?
The tears welled up on their own, all red-faced anger and helplessness. Alice hated crying, especially from ragewhen only a stifled, raw croak would come out.
William reached out as if to take her hand.
Dont touch me!
Alice, lets talk properly…
Properly?! She pulled away as if he were contagious. Whats left to talk about, Will? How you lied to me for months? Or how I sat here so grateful, thinking what a loving husband I had? When all the while you were cheating?
She turned away and strode to the bedroom. She dragged her holdall out from under the bed, shoving clothes into it, hands shaking, the zip jamming, a jumper refusing to go in.
Where are you going? William hovered at the door.
To Mums. To a friends. Anywhere but here.
Alice, wait, lets discuss this…
Theres nothing to discuss. The flats yours she finally wrangled the zip, hefted the bag onto her shoulder nothing here is holding me. Ill rid myself of your name with pleasure. Had enough of this family. Im done…
She strode past him, not looking back.
The doors click felt louder than any shout. And in that ringing silence, Alices new life began, full of strange hopes yet to be dreamt.
