Ethel! Eth, George called from across the road.
Ethel let out a heavy sigh, set her grocery bags on the curb and paused. She glanced at his car parked on the opposite side, drew her cheeks together, and bowed her head. How weary she felt of all this. George hurried toward her, nearly stumbling, eager to help.
Hello, Eth, he said, reaching for the bags.
Good day, she replied.
I was just driving past and saw you with those heavy sacks, thought Id give you a hand, he said with a foolish grin. Come on.
Passing by? You live on Glassgate, and this is the outskirts
George already veered toward his own car, two bags in his hands.
Picked up a mate from work, and then I saw you couldnt just drive on, he shrugged. Ill give you a lift home.
Im only a quartermile away.
Nonsense, Ill haul the heavy bags. Hows little Tom, Mum?
Perfect. Ill pick him up this weekend and well catch up. You call every day, dont you? Ethel trailed after George, or rather after her groceries. Why do you keep asking about me?
Just curious, George said, opening the passenger door for his former wife. Were not strangers, are we?
Backseat for me.
Dont, its a mess back there.
Ethel slipped the rear door open, peered insideindeed, it was cramped.
You still dont trust me she muttered.
She sighed and settled in the front seat. George stowed the bags in the boot. He settled behind the wheel, beamed at Ethel, while she stared out the window at the familiar neighbourhood.
You look as sprightly as ever, he said.
George, just get me home. I still have dinner to make, she snapped.
Yes, yes! George revved the engine and they pulled away. Ive just landed a new job, sorting paperwork for a shift pattern, he blurted, while Ethel stared indifferently out the glass. Tom mentioned you both moved out of your motherinlaws house?
Shes been out of the picture for three years now, Ethel replied without moving.
Ethel, stop playing hide and seek! Why do I always only get Tom from you? Are you hiding your address? Let me at least drop you home.
No, thank you, she said, tugging at the collar of her coat. I bought the groceries for my mother.
Give them back and Ill take you home, Tom had promised
They stopped in a back garden.
What did Tom say? I told him not to. Are you two still on good terms?
Yes.
What the devil do you want from me? she snapped, finally losing restraint.
Ethel, were not strangers we share a son, George tried to grasp her hand. She withdrew it with a cold gesture.
George, enough! How many more of your accidental visits must I endure? Stop calling my mother, pleading for forgivenessit wont help! We left her because you were a burden! Im on the brink of a nervous breakdown; all anyone says is how you regret, how youre miserable without us, how you dream of getting the family back together.
And Tom? Why are you stringing him along? Hes just beginning to get used to his father on weekends, and you tell him well reconcile, you ask him to pass on greetings, ask about my work hours, where Im off to.
Im worried, too about our son! How many times will you keep pressing him? Stop using him to manipulate me!
Ethel flung the car door open, tried to pull the bags from the boot, but the latch jammed. She wrestled with the trunk, frantic to rid herself of George. Her mothers eyes watched from the upstairs window, a concealed stare through the curtains. George finally opened the boot, carried the bags to the foot of the stairs, but Ethel stopped him.
No, Ill do it myself.
Ethel, you must understand I still love you! Id give up everything for you. Should I quit the nightshift? Return to my old job? Buy you a new car? Why must you walk?
No, she snapped, snatching the bags from his grasp. I actually hope you go away, find a woman of your own, love her, live happily, and leave me in peace.
Ethel, forgive me, it was a oneoff, it meant nothing! I still curse myself, he pleaded.
I forgave you long ago, released you, yet you wont let go.
I cant! Life without you is unbearable, George shouted as Ethel climbed the stairs.
George, cease your theatrics. Ive forgiven you, but I cannot love you again, came a faint reply from above. The door on the second floor slammed, and silence fell. George clenched his fists, walked to his car, glancing at his motherinlaws windows. How foolish he had been, swapping his wife, son, and home for a fleeting affairthough perhaps just one, as hed boasted. After the divorce, a year alone taught him there was no better than his Ethel. No one could love him as he loved his wife and little Tom.
Theyd met at school; she transferred into their form ten and outshone every girl. George only had eyes for her. Summer holidays took his restless heart elsewhere, but when September came, she no longer sparked his interest. They remained friends, drifted apart for five years while both studied, then reunited in the same social circle as adults. Ethel earned a firstclass degree and a solid job, returned to her hometown, and took a post at the mill where her mother worked. George, ever the dreamer, bounced from one venture to another, finally settling at a factory, his ambitions never quieted.
Everything changed when Ethel announced she was pregnant after a few meetings. George, terrified, whisked her away to meet his parents. They married, Tom was born, they bought a modest house with a mortgage that the grandparents helped repay early. Summers were spent at the seaside, birthdays, christenings, weekend trips, and family anniversaries. George grew restless, craving recognition at work, but the career ladder stalled. New friends came, a former colleague helped him secure a managerial role in exchange for dubious favors, which soon dissolved.
Ethel saw it differently. She urged George to take a break, suggesting he could even bring Tom along. He balked, used to having them, but eventually agreed to a short fishing trip with a friend in Norfolk. The plan fell through; the friends wife sent a polite note, asking him not to trouble them further. Ethel packed her things, Tom, and went to stay with her mother.
When George asked where she was, she sent him crude photos from her fishing outing. He raced there, only to find a closed door; his motherinlaws stare froze him. He waited, then received a divorce summons. He fought it, delayed, begged Ethel for forgiveness wherever he could find her, but the divorce went through.
A year later, seeing George trying to helppaying alimony, calling Tom every weekend, even winning his motherinlaws goodwillEthel finally granted him leniency. Yet the bond was gone; the scars had healed into mere memories, devoid of feeling.
Their final parting was stark.
Ethel, why do you keep pestering him? her mother asked from the hallway as she entered.
Whos pestering whom? Ethel replied. Has Tom not come home from school?
No.
Hes driving me mad, Mum! Let him go to the nightshift in some other town! He haunts me, Im scared to build any relationship, never knowing what George might do.
Ethel carried bags into the kitchen, where her mother had brewed a fragrant tea, the scent of fresh scones filling the air.
Ah, smells lovely, her mother said.
Ethel, you cant just throw your son into the wind after so many years together her mother warned.
How can I? Whats left? How can we share a bed, a flat, when hes a stranger to me now? My messages to that woman went unanswered, the court summons piled up. How do I live with a man I feel nothing for?
Then why give him hope, why keep in touch? her mother asked, unable to meet her daughters eyes.
Its him! He wont let me be. He barged into my office a month ago, I smiled, flirted a bit. He wants forgiveness what am I to forgive? Hes not the one I was with.
He wont release you; you need someone else, her mother said calmly, Men like George cant handle a betrayal.
What? Ethel laughed bitterly. Betrayal? Weve been divorced three years, hes no one.
He wont let you go.
Its true, Im fed up! she shouted.
George lingered, waiting for his new job paperwork to finish. He called Ethel during her lunch break at work, asked Tom to tell his mother theyd still be together. His exmotherinlaw stopped answering. Weeks later, he spotted Ethel and Tom early at school.
Ethel, Im off tomorrow
Good luck.
Tom, fathers heading off far, but not for long, George said, looking at his exwife, who turned away. Anything to say?
Tom tugged his mothers sleeve; his first lesson was Russian, punctuality mattered.
Ive said all I can. Glad youre changing scenery, hope it helps you.
Dont hope, I wont leave you!
George knelt, hugged Tom tightly, tried the same with Ethel, who pulled away. He clenched his teeth, walked to the car.
Ill forgive you, Ethel, he shouted from the roadside, but never the betrayal.
Ethel found a fleeting amusement in his outburst.
Three months of quiet passed; Ethels eyes no longer darted to the blue car parked down the lane. She roamed the town freely, unafraid of a random runin with her exhusband. She dined out with colleagues, finally met her old friend, Clara, who pushed her to save the marriage, to love George. Ethel cut ties, convinced George was manipulating her. It turned out Clara was also divorced, knew the strain of raising a child alone, and had forgiven her own husband for petty mishapslike finding mens trinkets in the boot when a lover visited, then shouting, Lets pop the champagne! to celebrate new love.
Can we safely uncork? Clara smiled. And open our hearts to new chances, she winked.
Sure, if I dont get a hundred calls and texts from George daily, Ethel sighed.
The one who invited you after work? Did you answer?
Clara says George will be back and everything will start again, Ethel said, glancing at the café menu.
Make it end! Distract yourself, talk to someone, youre still young, youre beautifullook, Clara leaned over the table, whispering. Hes only watching you, she laughed.
Ethel blushed, turned, and met his gaze. A man strutted over, introduced himself, offered coffee to both. They declined, but the charming gentleman lingered.
Ethel watched Claras eyes follow him, Claras attention fixed on the mans look at her friend. Suddenly she needed to leave; minutes later she introduced herself to a man named Samuel, exchanged numbers, and texts began. She stopped reading Georges endless messages, though her phone chimed constantly. She smiled at each new note, hurrying home as if someone awaited her.
Hey, Tom, hows school?
Fine, Dad, I got a five on the Russian test! Guess what
Tom, hows mum? the caring father interrupted.
All good, mum changed her hair, we were at Lilas birthday yesterdayshes my friends daughter
Nice. She never answers my calls, doesnt read my messages, George sighed, Call her, please.
She cant come, we have guests.
Who?
Uncle Samuel.
What uncle?! George blurted. Hand her the phone quick.
Mum! Mum! Tom shouted from his room. Laughter floated from the kitchen, the scent of something baking, noises from the walls as Uncle Samuel tinkered with something. Mum! Tom called louder, Dads calling.
Martha, in an apron, peeked through the open kitchen door.
Yes, she answered, eyes on the warm light spilling from the stove.
Whats up, Ethel? Out for a walk? Youre throwing yourself at men again, huh? George teased.
Dont you get sick of it, Ethel replied, You calling again?
What gives you the right? You have a son! How dare you! he roared. Ill come over, give you a honeymoonwhat a brute.
Finally youve cracked, Ethel laughed, Ive been waiting for the real one who swapped his family for a fling to show up. When will you realise were strangers?
Go to hell, you! George shouted into the handset, Ill be back in a week, I I
Ethel, I did what you asked, a male voice said nearby, Are you coming? Tom and I want a treat, the aroma from the oven is killing us. Right, Tom?
Tom nodded, reaching for his phone, his voice a mix of shrieks.
Whos that? Samuel asked, reaching for the handset.
Ethel handed it over; the shouting ceased as George hung up.
Dad will call later, Ethel said, looking at her upset son.
George never called Tom again, but he did ring his former motherinlaw, insulting her for raising a daughter like Ethel. He even wrote to Clara, promising to return and settle scores. He never came back from his first deployment, then another, and eventually vanished somewhere across the country, chasing his own potential. He thought of Tom twice a yearon birthdays and New Yearsrarely writing to him or to Ethel, blaming both for the failure to reunite. Tom turned out a rebel, aligning with a man named Samuel
Ethel now lives with Samuel; hes no longer a visitor in her flat. Tom, for a while, missed his fathers calls, but Samuel and he found common groundSamuel too had a strict schoolteacher, remembered rules by heart, and gladly explained them to Tom.
