Leave and never look back.
James, I saw an ad last night a threebedroom flat for sale in the exact area weve been eyeing. Its exactly what we need, and we have enough saved for it, dont we? Once we sell the house we can help Lily pay off her mortgage. Lets go see it, Emily says, her eyes shining with anticipation.
James waves her off, exhausted. Not today. I was finishing a report until midnight yesterday and Ill probably be late again tonight. He gulps the last of his coffee, grabs the car keys and a folder of papers, and heads out.
Emily sighs, not daring to argue. Lately James has been home less often, arriving late, even working weekends. Still, his salary is good, and Emily longs to move closer to her daughter. They have been saving for years every penny James earns goes into a savings account, while they live on his mother Margarets pension and Emilys own wages. Emily works as the manager of the village community centre and runs a dance class on the side. Its a tough balance, but living near Lily and working in a large city cultural centre has always been her dream, so she tolerates the strain.
Emily and James first met in the county town when James was in his final year of university and Emily was training at a dance college. They fell in love so quickly that, as soon as James graduated, they married and moved to his hometown. Emily left her studies after a year, but she never regretted it she now has a husband, a legal one, and she believes their long, happy life together is certain.
But the married life starts off rocky. Within days of moving into Jamess family home, James is called up for a year of military service. Emily is already upset about the separation, and then Margaret, Jamess mother, arrives. From the moment she sees her son return with a wife, she despises Emily. She refuses to speak to James, only muttering, You promised! at their first meeting. Emily tries to win her over, taking on any chore she can, but nothing works.
Why didnt you call Mum before you got married? What did you promise her? Why does she hate me? Emily asks James.
James explains that two years ago his younger sister died at seventeen. She had fallen for a released convict who had served three years for a fight. She ignored her mothers warnings, ran away, and one night she and her boyfriend rode a motorcycle to a neighbouring village. The boyfriend was drunk and lost control; her sister died, and the boyfriend went back to prison for a long term. After the funeral, Margaret forced James to swear never to marry without her blessing. He swore, but he married anyway, and Margaret never forgave him.
James is unsure whether to let Emily live with Margaret, but Emily insists she will stay, because she loves him and wants to get along with Margaret.
Within a few weeks Margarets heart softens. Emily proves to be hardworking, cheerful and kind. Margaret, though still a bit hurt, admits that Emily is a worthy partner for her son. Emily also tells Margaret that her own mother died eleven years ago and her father raised her alone. He recently remarried a woman with two small children, who immediately told Emily that there was no room for her now that shes an adult and must fend for herself.
Dont think I married James just because of that, Emily blushes under Margarets frowning stare. I got a place in student housing, a scholarship for excellent grades; I would have survived. I cant live without James I love him deeply.
Margarets frown eases, and she embraces Emily, tears of sorrow and relief streaming down her cheeks. She feels a weight lift, as if some of her grief has finally loosened.
A year later James returns, takes a job at the district office and commutes there daily. Emily becomes the organiser and head of the dance class at the local community centre. Their salaries are modest, but a baby girl, Lily, is born. Money is tight, yet Margaret helps them a lot, spending time with her granddaughter and never sparing any expense.
Later James moves to a reputable firm, travels for work, and quickly climbs the ladder his salary multiplies. The small village hall is replaced by a spacious town cultural centre, and Emily is appointed its manager. She keeps her beloved dance class, taking local girls to competitions where they win prizes. Their lives settle into comfortable prosperity: they buy a nice car, refurbish their house, and take holidays by the sea.
Everything stays fine until Lily leaves to study in the county town and gets married. Emily misses her daughter and remembers her own dream of working in a real city cultural palace, so she suggests to James that they save enough to buy a flat in the town where Lily lives, sell the house, and help Lily clear her mortgage. James hesitates a moment, then gladly agrees, noting that their firm has a branch in that town, so he could transfer. He warns that theyll have to put his entire salary into a savings account and live on Margarets pension and Emilys earnings. The whole family agrees, and they start saving.
Life becomes noticeably tougher, but Emily doesnt complain; shes never been spoiled. James begins staying late more often, citing extra responsibilities that bring higher pay. Emily believes him, yet the growing distance unsettles her. When she tentatively brings it up, James snaps, Im working from dawn till dusk to earn more. Dont you start nagging me! Decide what you want me at home beside you or a flat in town near Lily? Do you want a grandchild to rely on a bus? Just be patient and endure.
Emily swallows the rebuke and tries to keep her composure. One night, after James arrives home at 1:30am for the third night in a row, she finally says she no longer wants to move, that shed rather stay as before, but she needs James home in the evenings so they can spend time together and visit friends. They eventually fall asleep as a married couple should. James listens, strips, turns away to the wall and goes to sleep. The next morning he again arrives late.
Then James vanishes. He leaves for work in the morning and never returns that evening. Hes missing the next day and the following night. His phone is switched off, and Emily cant contact any of his colleagues James never spoke about his job at home. After frantic calls to the morgue and hospitals, terrified and sleepless, Emily decides to drive to the town where his firm is located.
As she packs, Margaret sits nearby, breathing heavily, her face pale from a sleepless night.
Dont worry, Mother, hell be found, alive and well, Emily says as calmly as she can, hugging Margaret gently.
Emily tries to reassure herself, but tears well up, her throat tight with fear. She forces herself, Hes alive, hell be found, I know it!
A familiar voice calls out from a minibus stop. Hey, Emily, you heading into town? Lets go together. Did you hear theyre buying a new car? Maybe you could sell yours cheap?
Emily frowns, What are you talking about?
Her friend shrugs, I heard James withdrew a huge sum from the bank a few days ago. I thought maybe he was planning something, so I paid my own bills and saw the transaction. You didnt know?
Emily goes pale. The money must have something to do with his disappearance. She rushes to his office, only to learn from the receptionist that James has quit. He supposedly moved to another job, but no one knows where. Emily then files a missingperson report at the police station. The officers take her case seriously, record her statements and promise to start a search.
The next day a police officer calls her back. Why didnt you tell us youd divorced three months ago? he asks, irritation in his voice. That changes everything. Perhaps he simply left without notifying you. You didnt find any of his documents at home, right? He took everything with him?
Emily looks at the officer, confused. He hands her a copy of a court order and a marriagedissolution certificate. She cant comprehend whats happening. When she returns home, she tells Margaret everything. Margaret gasps, clutches her mouth, and looks terrified.
What? Emily asks, breathless.
Im sorry, its my fault, Margaret stammers, her fingers trembling. James told me a court summons would be sent to you over a loan fraud. He asked me to hide them so you wouldnt be stressed. He promised a good judge would help. I didnt know hed use that to file for divorce. I never meant to keep this from you.
Did he fake the divorce? Really? Emily whispers, sinking onto the sofa, bewildered. Where is he? Whats happening to him?
Early this morning he messaged me that hes gone with another woman, theyll be married soon, Margaret says quietly, eyes filling with tears. He took all the money his salary. I even thought of moving into a care home and leaving it to you, hoping youd forgive me.
Emily gets up, steps outside, and stands in the yard, shaking as if chilled by an icy wind that seems to come from inside her. She remembers the lilac and two birch trees they planted by the fence years ago, now towering strong, unlike their fragile marriage. She recalls James pulling Lily on a sled in winter, the day a runaway pig escaped from their farm and the whole family chased it, laughing. The memories flood her and she breaks down, the emptiness crushing her heart.
I wont let you go, Mother, Emily says firmly, returning to the house. James betrayed me, not you. I love you like my own mother, I know youd never hurt me. She embraces Margaret, both of them sobbing.
That night, after theyve cried enough, Emily and Margaret call Lily and tell her everything. Lily is horrified by her fathers actions and declares she will never forgive him. She then offers her grandparents a place to live with her.
Initially I wanted to surprise you later, but we need help now. Were expecting twins, so well need you, grandmothers. Sell your house, move here. Our flat has three bedrooms; everyone will have space. Agree?
Emily and Margaret exchange a tearfilled smile and nod.
James does show up in the town once, but Lily never lets him into the flat. Perhaps he hoped to return, perhaps not no one there expects him, not even his mother.
