It hold on a moment! my dear friend Claire shouted, her tone bright as ever. And that bloke of yours hes not paying childsupport, is he?
I never bothered to sort that out, I replied, sighing. We dont want anything from him anyway. Hes got a new family now.
Good grief, Claire gasped. What are you to do? By law the money belongs to the children, not to you! No one should be bothered by his new wife and baby.
I was fairly content with my own domestic life. Ian and I raised our two daughtersRosie and Lilyin the modest twobedroom flat Ian owned. Both of us worked; Ian ran a small haulage firm that never brought in much, but between his wages and mine we managed to get by.
Claire, however, could never quite warm to Ian.
Hes a lazy, daft sort of fellow! she would blurt out at our ladies evenings in her usual blunt manner. He should be picking up a side jobour family isnt exactly tiny! A cab driver, perhaps? Instead he lounges on the sofa after work. He looks exhausted, I tell you!
We dont even own a car, I would answer meekly.
Why not? You can rent one nowtwentyfirstcentury, you know! shed retort.
On the plus side, hes goodnatured, hardworking, never drinks, and loves us girls, Id defend him fiercely.
Claire never took offence. Wed been friends since school, and shed always spoken her mind without much filter. Deep down she was kind, always ready to lend a hand or a few pounds until payday.
My luck with men was poor for many years. It wasnt until I turned thirty that I found true happiness and fled with my husband to the countryside. After that we kept in touch only by telephone, seeing each other once a year.
So when Ian suddenly announced he was leaving me for another woman, I was taken aback. He strode into the flat one afternoon and dropped the bombshell as if it were nothing more than gossip.
Were soulmates, he confessed, his voice low. Ruth is expecting a boy.
youve been seeing her for a while?
It doesnt matter, he waved it off. What matters is that Im moving in with her, and youll need to vacate the flat.
Ruth, the soulmate, was a school nurse, a plainlooking woman seven years my junior. Ian and I had met a year earlier when Rosie fell badly at school and Ian drove to fetch her.
It turned out the flat Ian had let us live in was never his to begin with; a kindly relative had let us stay there. Now the relative wanted the place backa coincidence, indeed.
One might think it odd that I knew nothing of this, but Ian always paid the council tax and utilities himself; I never saw the bills. Moreover, Ian and his relative shared the same surname, so I never questioned it.
Stunned, I didnt raise a fight. I packed a few belongings, called a cab, and we moved into a spare room in a threebedroom house where I had lived before marriage.
I didnt lie to the girls. Elevenyearold Rosie was unusually perceptive and grasped the situation instantly, turning away from her father and asserting her independence. Lily simply mimicked her sister.
Well still see each other, Ian tried to coax, but when he saw we werent listening he fell silent.
Soon it became clear he had little desire to see his daughters at all. After all, he now had a sonVictora budding lad he boasted was his future heir.
It was the girls who steadied me. I suddenly realised I would smash myself to pieces for them; no faithless fathers were needed in our lives.
Living again in a cramped communal flat was strange. Uncle Jack, a neighbour, still drank more than he did twelve years ago and brought his mates over. Yet Aunt Margaret, the elderly lady next door, proved indispensable.
Oh, you poor thing, she would say compassionately as I struggled with the boxes, Dont worry, the world is full of knaves, but there are plenty of good folk too.
Aunt Margaret rallied the girls, getting them to help tidy up and cook dinner, making them laugh with the odd anecdotes from her youth. She kept an eye on them when they returned from school.
I had to find a second job, which meant I often came home late. Rosie, clever and responsible, helped with her own homework and assisted Lily. Under Aunt Margarets watchful eye, the girls quickly learned to whip up simple meals, and their room stayed immaculate.
Youve struck gold with those girls, Aunt Margaret would wink.
I know, Id reply, smiling wearily.
After half a year, life had settled into a steady rhythm. We looked after each other and our neighbours. Even Uncle Jack seemed to drink less in the childrens presence.
Ian saw his daughters a few times at most, but he posted daily photos and videos of his new wife and son on social media. I never saw them; Claire was the one who told me.
I dont get it! Claire snapped, never losing her sharp edge even after marriage. He left you, and you never told me! How could you?
I know youll worry, Claire, but I cant add to my stress now, I tried to explain weakly.
What position, then? Im pregnant, not ill! Dont mention my age! she fumed. Spill it!
I gave her a brief, almost detached account. Id already grieved, cried, and moved on. Its all right now, I said.
Right? she sneered. Im glad you and the girls are safe, but that that scoundrel should be made to pay!
Claire, why so bloodthirsty? Let him live! I pleaded.
Youll think about it, she warned. And dont ever hide anything from me again, you wretched soul!
Her words made me smile despite myself; her fiery chatter always lifted my spirits.
A month later, Ian burst back in, claiming he was now a rich man. An uncle had passed away and left him a country house, a car, and a tidy sum of money.
And now Im taking the girls, he declared grandly. Theyll have proper rooms, a decent roofunlike this leaky place.
Youve lost your mind, I exclaimed, bewildered. You never cared about the children before
Its simple, he said. Ruth finished a psychology course. She says children need a proper environment, with a father watching over them. Youre always off at work
Absurd! What else do I have to do on Ruths orders? What experiment is this?
If you object, Ian brushed off my questions, Ill take the children through the courts.
Aunt Margaret arrived just in time. Assessing the scene in a flash, she shoved Ian out of the doorway. He left, haughty, insisting he would return.
Claire, what am I to do? I sobbed into the phone. The flat is truly falling apart. The management company cant fix the roof for the second year, the neighbours keep nagging, and my wages
Hold on a minute! Claire replied cheerfully. And that bloke of yours still not paying maintenance?
I never thought about that, I confessed. We dont need anything from him. Hes got a new family.
Goodness, what will you do? By law the children are entitled to support, not you! No one should fuss over his new wife and child.
I
Youre a fool, forgive me! He should at least help with the house! Turn the TV on once in a while!
No time for television. You dont know
I know. Forgive me. In the meantime, until the baby arrives I have nothing to do, and Im on top of everything!
Listen, Claire said, I have a friend in your town. Ill ask her to explain everything to you plainly. Expect a call, and dont give me any more grief!
Claires friend turned out to be a sprightly young solicitor named Amy. After speaking with me, she quickly outlined Ians legal position.
Youll have to pay child supportonethird of your income as the law says. Weve secured a twobedroom rental; youll cover half the rent.
Make sure the girls stay healthy, Amy added, rattling off details. Youll also have to chip in for any medical expenses.
Whats that supposed to mean? Ian asked helplessly.
It means the girls will live with me, Amy shrugged. The court will likely leave the children with their mother, especially since they want to stay with her.
In the end, Ian agreed to pay maintenance, contribute to flat repairs, and not fight for the girls custody.
Dont relax just yet, Amy winked. Well press him to help you buy a flat of your own. Everything will turn out fine.
I had no reason to doubt Amys vigor. And so, looking back now, I see how the years of hardship, the steadfast help of neighbours like Aunt Margaret, the loyalty of friends such as Claire, and the eventual justice secured by Amy brought peace to our small family once more.
