He’ll Always Go Back to His Mistress: A Story Thank you all for your support, your likes, your heartfelt reactions, reviews on my stories, and subscriptions—my deepest thanks from me and my brood of five mischievous moggies for every single donation! Please feel free to share any stories you enjoyed on social media—it truly warms an author’s heart! At his mother’s insistence, Anthony finally broke things off with Lily. He never really understood her lifestyle, and his mother put her foot down, laying out all the reasons why Lily wasn’t the respectable sort of woman a man should marry. Anthony sensed for himself that it wasn’t really working. Lily was always out for work—cafés, restaurants, weddings, birthdays, wakes, kids’ parties—she was a compere, and when Anthony’s mum found out, she was appalled. “You’re a decent man, Anthony, selling sofas and mattresses, heading to work in the morning, home at night, regular as clockwork. But that Lily of yours will be sleeping in all morning, won’t even greet you after work, gets home at midnight stinking of smoke, drink, and other men. Is that what you want? Look at her, you can just see she’s up to no good by the way she smiles!” Anthony’s mum had met Lily only once—but she’d made her mind up instantly. Anthony gave in—he was already anxious, jealous when Lily glammed up to work in another club or restaurant; it just didn’t feel right to him. His mother only confirmed his doubts—she may be a worrier, but she’s never wrong. A year later, Anthony married Nadia, the quiet librarian. His mum adored her from the first hello. She was shy, modest, diligent. “Now that’s a real wife—look at her! Goes to work without a scrap of makeup, dresses decently, nothing revealing, never a skirt above the knee. She hurries home of an evening, and see how she gazes at you? Gold, pure gold, Anthony! I finally approve of your choice…” Anthony’s mum was a wonderful woman, but hers had been a hard life. She’d never been a beauty, just a modest post office worker, dreaming of a home and family. At thirty-five she realised marriage was unlikely, so she decided to have a child on her own—even if it seemed improper. And so Anthony was born, named after his grandfather. For a while, her parents helped raise him, but then they passed, and it was just the two of them. Anthony loved his mum deeply, always helping out. He struggled at school but did his best, left after his GCSEs, finished college, and became a furniture shop salesman. Mum was ever so proud—her son went to work in a suit and earned a decent wage. And now, at last, he’d found the right girl—Nadia. A happy life ahead, grandchildren for Mrs. Anthony, which she dreamt of day and night. Their wedding was a quiet do at home. Anthony didn’t have much family—just his colleague Colin and an old school friend, Tony. Nadia’s side was her parents and two librarian friends—no need for a crowd, it was about starting a family, after all. So, her son married, thank God, to a good woman. Now Nadia would greet Anthony with a hot supper. Though her cooking was rather bland—she’d grown up with a dad who had gastritis. Nadia was slow, quiet, rarely laughed, always had her nose in a book. She despised telly, so Mrs. Anthony turned the volume down on her favourite soaps and stopped frying up the pasties they loved, because Nadia considered all that unhealthy. Their home settled into a hushed, flavourless routine, and Anthony grew withdrawn and joyless. Six months later, Anthony stayed late at work one evening, then switched off his phone and didn’t come home. Nadia cried all night, called off work, packed, and moved back to her parents, telling Mrs. Anthony with bitterness, “I thought your son was a decent man, but he’s betrayed me…” Gentle, yielding Nadia turned out to be stubborn, as tough as nails. Anthony didn’t try to win her back; he just apologised for letting her down. “Where were you, tell me?” interrogated Mrs. Anthony, and soon he confessed. “Mum, Lily came into the shop to buy a sofa—she didn’t know I worked there,” he explained. “Didn’t know? That schemer turned up to lure you back and ruin your life!” fumed Mrs. Anthony. “Mum, you’re wrong—she’s not what you think. I only walked her home to clear the air, but she sent me away!” “Oh, she sent you away, did she? That’s a trick, Anthony—don’t see her again, she’ll ruin your life!” Mrs. Anthony’s panic was real; she was terrified her son would get tangled again with that adventurer. “You just don’t know, Mum, there’s more to it…” But she cut him off, “That’s enough, Anthony. Enough with the drama.” After this upheaval and his divorce from Nadia, Anthony sank into gloom for a long time. So when he started seeing someone new, Mrs. Anthony was almost relieved—maybe, just maybe, one day there’d be grandchildren after all! Alina had recently started working with Anthony as a furniture salesperson. “Mum, we’ve decided not to rush into marriage. We’re just going to give things a try for now, make sure it’s right,” Anthony told her, to his mother’s dismay. And when Alina turned out to be untidy, lazy, and eventually got sacked for being rude to customers, Mrs. Anthony was horrified. Alina now spent all day on Anthony’s sofa, glued to her phone, sipping coffee, pretending to job hunt. Why was her son so unlucky in love—why did he only find the wrong sort of girl? Watching Alina day after day, Mrs. Anthony could barely contain her irritation. Then, when Alina announced she and Anthony would soon marry, Mrs. Anthony snapped, “Don’t marry him—he always goes back to ‘her’. He’s had a fancy woman for years and even has a child with her; he runs off to see them all the time, gives her money. It’ll never stop, they quarrel and make up constantly, understand?” But Alina just laughed her off, sure it was nothing but the old bat being mean because Anthony loved only her and let her live rent-free. Mrs. Anthony looked at her son’s third love with pity, realising there was no point reasoning with Alina and waving her away, “Live as you like. I’m tired of these games.” Then, quietly, she decided to visit Lily—to see what her own son couldn’t let go of, why he kept bringing the wrong women home instead. She didn’t know which flat was Lily’s, but luck was on her side: as she approached the door, Lily stepped outside—holding a little boy by the hand. Mrs. Anthony stopped in her tracks, gasping. How could this be—it hurt even more than she’d expected—her gut had been right when she told Alina about the child. The boy Lily was leading looked just like little Anthony had as a child: mischievous bright eyes, the same sticky-out ears, nose, smile—the spitting image! “Lily, sweetheart, stop a moment—I’ve come to talk to you,” Mrs. Anthony called, trembling. She couldn’t believe it—her own grandson was already toddling and chatting and she’d known nothing about him! Lily looked back, recognised her, pursed her lips stubbornly but stopped, “Hello, Mrs. Anthony. I’m listening.” “How could I have known? How could Anthony—he’d never… he’s a good lad,” Mrs. Anthony stammered, scrambling to defend her son. “Don’t worry, he just didn’t know,” Lily replied dryly, intending to leave, but Mrs. Anthony pressed on, “He loves you, it was my fault—I led him astray. Don’t send him away, just talk this through,” Mrs. Anthony pleaded, her eyes fixed on the boy—Anthony’s double, no need for a DNA test. “What’s your son’s name?” she asked, voice shaking so much Lily softened, “His name is Nicholas. Come on, Nicky, we’re in a rush—I only run children’s parties now, and wherever I go, Nicky comes too. We haven’t got anyone else.” “But you have me, I’m his grandmother, after all,” Mrs. Anthony offered, but Lily turned away, saying nothing, and they walked off… “Mum, did you go to see Lily?” Anthony asked, finding her gloomy some days later, not even noticing that Alina had moved out. “Mum, thank you—Lily’s forgiven me, and she’ll let me see my son. I’m going to make her my wife,” Anthony told her, a new determination in his voice. Mrs. Anthony was surprised—her son had always been a mother’s boy, easily swayed. But now there was grit in him. “Well done, love. And forgive me—I was foolish. You fight for your happiness, even… even if it means fighting your mum…” Anthony and Lily Anthony and Lily soon married and now live at Lily’s. Granny Mrs. Anthony regularly babysits Nicholas, and sometimes he stays over. And the best news—soon there’ll be another baby! The scan says it’s a girl—Mrs. Anthony is already dreaming of cuddling her granddaughter from day one. Now, she doesn’t meddle in their lives—it’s not her place. Lily turned out to be a wonderful homemaker, and Anthony is so happy he can’t stop smiling. It’s good that her heart told her, back then, that Lily is who her son truly needed—and without her, he’d have withered away. You can’t build happiness by trampling someone else’s life, by picking your son’s wife or deciding whom he’s meant to love. Let him marry the one he simply can’t live without…

Once again, hell go back to his mistress. A Story

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By his mothers insistence, Edward eventually broke things off with Holly. Truth be told, her lifestyle was always a mystery to him. And then his mother got involvedshe laid down the law, setting out all the reasons why Holly was not the sort of respectable girl a man should marry.

Edward himself had sensed it wasnt really working. Holly was constantly out at workone day in a café, the next a restaurant, then hosting weddings, anniversaries, wakes, even childrens parties. She was a master of ceremonies, but when Edwards mother found out, she was scandalised.

Youre a proper, decent man, Edward. You sell sofas and mattresses. Out by nine, home by five, just as it should be. This Holly of yours will be asleep in the morning, and when you get in after work, youll find the house emptyshe wont be in before midnight. Shell reek of cigarettes, drink, and other mendo you want that? Look at her smileshes obviously up to no good.

Edwards mother had only met Holly once, but shed made up her mind that instant.

And soon, Edward capitulated. Hed been struggling anywayevery time Holly dressed up and went out to a restaurant or club for her job, he found it improper, unsettling.

His mothers opinion sealed it. She could be grumpy, but she was never wrong.

A year later, he married Mary, a librarian.

Edwards mother took to Mary at once. Quiet, modest, earnest.

Now, thats a wife, Edward, no doubt about it! She doesnt bother with make-up for work, dresses decentlyno nonsenseher blouses buttoned up, never a skirt above the knee. Always rushing home in the evenings, gives you that look in her eye. Absolute gold, I tell youI truly approve now.

Edwards mother, Janet, was a wonderful woman. Life just hadnt gone easy for her.

Janet had never considered herself a beautyjust a modest postal worker. Shed dreamed of having a family, a child, but when she reached thirty-five, shed resigned herself to remaining single. She still longed for a child, so she decided to have Edward on her own, though she knew neighbors would consider it terribly improper.

Her parents helped with Edward at first, but after his grandparents died, it was just the two of them.

Edward loved his mother dearly and tried to help in every way. Academics werent really his thing, but he did his best, and after finishing his vocational course, he got a job selling furniture.

Janet was so proudher son in a suit for work, earning a decent wage. And now, finally, he had found the right girlMary. Surely this would be the start of a happy family, children, grandchildren for Janet, which is all shed ever dreamt of.

They had the wedding at homethere wasnt much family, just Edward’s friend Charlie from work and an old schoolmate, Tim. Mary brought her parents and two friends from the library. You dont need a swarm of bridesmaids when youre building a family.

And so shed married off her sonto a good girl, thank goodness.

Now Mary welcomed Edward home each day with a hot dinner. Her cooking was plain and repetitive, a habit she’d picked up from catering to her fathers sensitive stomach. Mary herself was quiet and slow, rarely laughed, always buried in books. She looked down her nose at the telly, so Janet felt embarrassed switching on her favourite soaps, turning the volume down low. The sweet treats she and Edward liked so muchMary dismissed as unhealthy, along with anything spicy or fried.

Their flat was always silent nowdull, even. Edward grew listless.

Six months on, Edward was late from work one day. Then he switched off his phone and didnt come home at all.

Mary wept the whole night, took a day off work, packed up her things, and went back to her parents. She glared at Janet, bitterness in her voice.

I thought your son was a decent man. Hes betrayed me

Gentle, accommodating Mary turned out, in the end, to be stubborn as an ox. But Edward didnt try to stop her. He just apologised, saying hed let her down.

Where were you? Tell me! Janet pressed, and Edward eventually gave in.

Mum, he said, It just sort of happenedHolly came into the shop to buy a sofa. She had no idea I worked there.

No idea? She planned it that wayto steal you back, to ruin your life! Thats what that girl does! Janet fumed.

You dont know her, Mum, shes not like that. I walked her home and tried to talk, but she sent me away! Edward protested.

Sent you awayoh, I know that trick. She tells you to go so youll beg her. Dont see her again, Ed, shell wreck your life! Her eyes flashed with real fear. She truly believed this woman would ruin everything for her son.

You dont understand, Mum, theres more Edward tried to say, but Janet cut him off.

Thats enough, EdwardI cant take any more.

After all this drama and his divorce from Mary, Edward was completely down, flat as a pancake for ages.

So when, in time, he found another girlfriend, Janet was relieved. Perhaps shed see grandchildren yet.

Ellie had recently started working at the same furniture shop, also as a sales assistant.

Mum, look, were not marrying just yet. We want to live together first and see if we suitcant have it all going wrong again, can we? Edward said. Janet didnt like this at all.

When Ellie turned out to be lazy, a slob, and even got sacked for rude behaviour with customers, Janet was horrified.

Now Ellie spent all day lying on the sofa with her phone, drinking coffee, pretending to look for work.

Why was her son always so unlucky with women?

Day by day Janet watched Ellie loaf about, struggling to bite back her annoyance. Then came Ellies declaration that she and Edward would soon marry, and Janet snapped.

Dont bother. Hell always go back to her, she said to Ellie. Has a sweetheart already, you knowhas a child with her too. Hes always running off to see her, giving money for the kid, they fall out and make up all the time.

Ellie just laughed. She was sure Janet was being spiteful, just couldnt bear that Edward now doted on her and allowed her not to work.

Janet gazed at her sons third girlfriend with a mix of pity and resignation, and finally just waved her hand dismissively.

Fine, live as you like, Im done with these games.

But quietly, Janet decided to pay Holly a visit. She wanted to know what was truly going on, why her son couldnt seem to forget her, why hed bring home anyone at all just to fill the gap.

Janet didnt know Hollys flat number, but by chance, as she reached her building, Holly stepped outsideholding a little boys hand.

Janets heart lurched.

Surely notworse than shed ever imagined. When shed blurted out to Ellie about a child, shed half-thought it was nonsense. But the boyit was like seeing her Edward as a toddler. The same mischievous blue eyes, the sticky-out ears, that nose, that smile. He was a carbon copy.

Hollywait, please, can I talk to you? Janet called, legs shaking beneath her.

Her own grandson, walking and chattering, and shed never even known.

Holly stoppedher face betrayed annoyance, but she managed to remain polite.

Hello, Mrs. Taylor. What would you like to talk about?

How could this be? Holly, I didnt know! And Edhe couldnt have, not my boy Janet stammered, floundering for words.

Dont fret, he just didnt know, Holly replied curtly, and made to walk on. But Janet couldnt let it go.

He loves you, Holly. Its my fault, I twisted his arm. Please, dont shut him outjust talk to him as adults Janet pleaded, unable to take her eyes off the childthe spitting image of her own boy.

Whats his name? she asked, voice trembling.

Hes called Sam. Come along, Samwere late. I only do childrens parties now, and Sam always comes with me, theres no one else.

I couldlet meIm his grandmother, after all, Janet offered, desperately. But Holly just turned away, saying nothing, and she and Sam walked off down the street.

A few days later, Edward came into her room.

Mum you went to see Holly, didnt you?

Janet had been so lost in gloomy thoughts, she hadnt even noticed that Ellie had moved out.

Mum, thank you. Holly forgave me, shes letting me see Sam now, but Im going to ask her to marry me.

Janet looked at her son in surprise.

Hed always been her little boy, obedient and easy to sway. But now, he seemed differentdetermined, even. All she could say was,

Well done, love. Forgive me, I was foolish. You must fight for your own happinesseven if that means standing up to your own mother.

Edward and Holly

Edward and Holly married shortly after thatliving in her flat, but Janet often popped round to look after Sam when the parents were at work, and sometimes Sam stayed over at his grandmothers.

The most wonderful news of alla new baby was on the way, a little girl this time. Janet is already dreaming of helping out with her from the very beginning.

Now, Janet keeps her distance. Shes learnt her lesson. Holly turned out to be a marvellous homemaker, and Edward beams with happiness.

How lucky that her intuition finally spoke upher son truly needed Holly, and without her, hed have withered away.

You cant build your childs happiness by trampling over someones life, by picking his wife, by making all his choices for him.

Let him marry the only one without whom he truly cannot live.