The dress! Are you telling me *I* threw it in the bin?
Standing at the kitchen table, lifting the lid of the waste bin, Emily went rigid. “What’s *this* dress doing here? You’re saying *I* put it in here myself?”
Emily asked herself the same unanswerable question almost daily: what on earth did she ever see in Daniel?
Average-lookingshe was embarrassed to introduce him to her friends, so as far as they knew, she was still single.
Only her sister knew she lived with a man, and she kept the secret well.
Daniel hadnt achieved muchjust a mechanic at a steelworks.
Sometimes, slumped in front of the telly, Emily caught herself thinking it was time to end things.
But just as she steeled herself, hed bring home flowers or some trinket, and shed postpone the inevitable.
Before Emily, Daniel had been married. It lasted barely two months, but long enough for a pregnancyand a daughter.
By the time Emily met him, the girl was twelve. Shed never laid eyes on her, nor had she wanted to.
That changed just before her birthday party, planned with her closest friends.
“Emily,” Daniel began hesitantly, “my ex has a business trip. Shes asked me to take Lily for a while.”
“How long?” Emily grimaced. The last thing she wanted was a child underfoot on her special day.
“A month.”
“A *month*?” Her brow furrowed. “She does realise well have to feed her, right?”
“Money? She didnt send anything.” He spread his hands helplessly.
“You *pay* child support. So shes dumping her here while pocketing your cheques?” she snapped.
“You know my wageswhats she meant to live on?” He gave a weak smile.
“Hows this meant to work?” Emilys irritation flared. “School runs, babysitting. Whys this *your* problem?”
“I *am* her father,” Daniel said, baffled. “Or dyou think I should turn her away?”
“Firstyou dont live alone. Secondthis is *my* flat, you shouldve asked. Thirdits my *birthday*, and I wont have it ruined!”
“I dont see my own daughter as a problem,” Daniel muttered, guilt creeping in.
“Oh, itll be a disaster,” Emily retorted, arms crossed.
Daniel insisted she was overreacting.
The next day, a round-faced girl with garish makeuplooking at least sixteenstood at their door.
She glared at Emily, then addressed Daniel without greeting.
“Where do I sleep?”
“The kitchen,” he forced a smile.
The girl rolled her eyes and fled to the bathroom in tears.
“What was *that*?” Emily hissed. “Rude little brat. Thank God Im celebrating at the café. And youre *not* coming.”
“Why not?” Daniel frowned. “I thought youd finally introduce me. Weve lived together six months”
“Youre *babysitting*,” Emily cut in, relieved she wouldnt have to explain him to her friendswhose boyfriends were gym-toned and polished.
“Right,” Daniel said stiffly.
The next morning, Emily bustled about, prepping for her party.
She ironed her dress, hung it up, and waited.
Daniel hadnt spokenhadnt even wished her happy birthday.
She pushed it aside, refusing to let it spoil her mood.
After work, she dashed home to changeand froze. The dress was gone.
“Wheres my *dress*?” she shrieked, storming into the kitchen where Lily lounged on the camp bed.
The girl ignored her, scrolling on her phone.
“*Listen* to me!” Emily snatched it from her hands.
“Give it *back*!” Lily screeched as Daniel rushed in.
“Whats going on?” he demanded. “Hand it over!”
“Wheres my *dress*?” Emily hissed.
“I didnt *take* anything!” Lily sneered. “She just *hates* me!”
“Give it to her. *Now*,” Daniel ordered.
“Oh, *shell* admit it!” Emily hurled the phone to the floor.
The screen shattered. Lily burst into sobs. Emily strode out, triumphant.
She grabbed another outfit, changed, and left for the café.
There, she drowned her fury in wine, decidingtonight, shed end it.
She returned at dawn. Daniel stirred as she entered.
“See the time?”
“Playing strict husband? Too late. Were done,” Emily said flatly. “Youre out by morning.”
“So *Im* the villain?” she scoffed.
“You smashed Lilys phone”
“She *stole* my dress!” Emily shrieked.
“She *didnt*!” Daniel snapped. “I *know* she didnt!”
Emily rolled her eyes, done listening.
Needing calm, she yanked open the cupboard for the half-finished wine.
One sipshe gagged, spitting. “*Shampoo*? Youll say *I* poured this too?”
Laughing bitterly, she flung open the binthen froze.
“And *heres* the dress! Youll say *I* chucked it in too?”
“You *wanted* an excuse to leave!” Daniel roared. “I *know* youve been planning this!”
Emily arched a brow. She remembered. All of it.
“I *bugged* the flat. Heard you and your sisterI *know* what you said!” he spat, triumphant.
“*Ah*! So *thats* how you always knew!” Emily recoiled. “Goodbye.”
This time, Daniel didnt beg her to stay. He knewit was over.
