One morning, Emilys husband, Simon, called her by another womans nameJenny. It happened just after breakfast. With a sleepy smile, Simon snuggled up, put his arm around her and whispered warmly in her ear, Good morning, Jenny. Then he drifted straight back to sleep, breathing softly.
Emily lay wide awake, frozen with shock and dread. How could this have happened? What was going on? Everything seemed fine beforeor was it?
Simon stirred and yawned. Emily, youre ice cold. Its summertime, and youre shivering under the duvet. Are you alright? Ill pop the kettle on.
Simon, cheerful as ever, whistled a tune and headed to the kitchen. Emily stayed in bed a bit longer before dragging herself up for a wash. Her legs felt heavy; her head buzzed with static. Maybe a cup of tea would help.
When Simon asked for pancakes for breakfast, Emily shot him a dark look. You called me Jenny this morning.
What? Love, what are you on about?
Simon, dont pretend. You called me Jenny earlier.
You must have misheard me, love. Emily, Jennytoo close to tell when youre half asleep. Is that why youre so frosty and glum? Women! You get yourself riled up over things that didnt happen. Now Ill have to go to work hungry!
***
Emily wandered about the house, trying to shake off her unease. She watered the plants, made a fresh batch of pancakes, dressed quickly and drove over to Simons surgery. Maybe shed misheard after all. Emily, Jennyalmost the same.
*** *** ***
At his clinic, Emily discovered a new secretaryyoung, striking, a tumble of ginger curls and a confidence about her.
Dr. Hughes is busy today and isnt seeing anyone. I can book you in for next week, the secretary announced with wide-eyed formality.
Best book your own appointment, Emily snapped without thinking. Youll probably need it more.
Sorry? Who are you, madam? said the secretary, taken aback.
Emily Hughes. Simons wife. Now step aside. They fill these places with any stray mongrel off the street.
At that moment, Simons voice rang joyously from his office intercom: Jenny, could you bring me some coffee? Jenny?
Emily snorted. Ill take it to him myself.
***
Emily? Simon stuttered when she marched in with his coffee and pancakes. Is something the matter?
Heres your coffee. And the pancakes. Your divorce papers will be arriving by first-class post. Enjoy your breakfast.
Emily, for goodness sake, whats going on? Simon snapped. Youve been witchy since dawn!
Theres a witch in your reception. Why is her hair all loose? Youre supposed to be a respectable dentist but this vulgar secretary makes the place look cheap, Simon.
Emily, enough. I cant handle hysterics. You know what? Im going to the cottage for a week and Ill wait for you to calm down. Call me when you cool off.
Its too late, Simon. I mean it. I wont put up with cheatingIll never forgive it. Just tell mewhy?
Simon sighed wearily, sipping his coffee with a grimace. Barbara left. Jenny came through her recommendation.
How long ago?
A month Simon replied reluctantly, eyes down.
Why didnt you tell me? You always shared your work news.
I didnt expect Jenny to stay long. But shes exceptional.
I bet.
At work! Shes good at her work!
And something more.
It just happened! I didnt want it!
If you hadnt wanted, you wouldnt have done it. Ill pack up and move out today.
To where? Simon stumbled over his words. Like I said, Ill take the cottage for a weekjust settle down. Emily, I dont want a divorce!
Youll have to. I cant bear hearing my name on your lips, not after Jennys. Your secretarys face will haunt meI work with children, my jobs stressful enough.
Where will you go? Stay in the flat.
Why would I want your flat? I have my own house.
That old place out in the sticks?
My parents house. And thats final.
*** *** ***
Her parents home was damp, mustya place heavy with memories. Emily felt tears sting her eyes. So much history and yet nothing was left, just the stale smell.
Her friend Helen fussed beside her. You cant live here, Em, dont be silly. Go back to the flat. Sell this house, use the money for a new place. Maybe a mortgage, who knows?
No need for all that. I can manage. Would you be able to?
Honestly, I dont know what Id do in your shoes.
Emily wandered through the house, opening windows wide. Its good here, you know. Ill make it work. Its a solid house, and the village is only fifteen minutes from town. People have started building all over. Im sure the utilities are sorted. I havent been here in five years.
Thats all well and good, but its a lot of work! And you need somewhere to live today. Stay at mine a bit?
Where, the broom cupboard?
Hannahs off to Grandmas for the summer. Her rooms free till autumn.
You cant put me in a teenagers sacred room, Helen! And youre a teacher, too.
Oh, go on, Helen sighed.
Smell that? Emily asked suddenly. It smells of grass and summer. Just like my childhood.
Yes, the grass is wild. Needs cutting. Emily, youll never keep up here.
Ill manage. I can pay someone to clear the garden. Ive saved enough, I think. Ever since Simon opened the private surgery, I lived off his earnings. He treated my salary as pocket moneyhe even told me to save it for fun things.
Hes a good bloke, Helen murmured.
I used to think so. Now, its all so heavy.
I can imagine.
You cant really. I thought about knocking Jennys teeth outlet Simon fix them then! But shes young and healthy; Id probably end up toothless instead.
Youre not old and ill, Em! Fortys just the start of life.
How on earth will I explain this to Polly? I dont even want to think about it. When the divorces settled, Ill tell her. Otherwise shell drop out of university and rush back to play peacekeeperI dont want that.
I get it. Twenty years togetherisnt it sad?
Sadness is for bees in their hiveleave it, Helen.
Youre tough, Helen noted. I expected tears.
Youll be waiting forever!
Stress does funny things.
Perhaps. Well, if you came here to help, take this bucket. Well fetch water, clean the floors, dust the windows.
Youd be far more comfortable at a hotel. Why bother with this house?
Why not? Its my parents houseI wont tear it down or sell it.
Then hire some designers and builders, get it all sorted! You shouldnt have to deal with everything nowthe flats both of yours, after all.
I dont want to stay there.
So, you wont split it?
I think Simon will let Polly and me keep it. Hes got the cottage. But really its Pollysshe can do what she likes. I dont need it.
He built that fancy place in the countryyoud be better off there, with running water and an actual toilet.
This place will have all that someday. Enough moaning. Lets fetch water and see the neighbourhood.
*** *** ***
The old village water tap was gonereplaced now by a big, modern house with a high fence.
No surprise, Helen muttered. Years go by, things change. Lookour houses are close together, they might want to expand.
Whats given you that idea?
Go round the house. Look. Their fence covers three sides, but near your house theyve just put stakes in. Bet they were looking for the ownernow youre back.
Maybe just waiting for the right moment to finish.
Wait for it. Ooh, see here comes a car. Must be the owners.
You, Helen, should write fairy tales.
Life is stranger than fiction. Ooh, look at that man! Handsome, eh?
Shut up, Helen. Im dealing with divorce and betrayal, Ive no time for men.
Then why stand here glued to the spot?
Im asking him about the waterneed to fill my bucket.
Go for it.
Emily wondered what Helen saw in the mannot very welcoming, didnt even nod. He stood by his car, hands deep in his pockets, silent. Helen, for once, kept quiet too.
The man finally cleared his throat. Need something?
Yeah, a bit of firewood would be handy, Emily replied.
He rocked on his heels. I can chop some for you. Are you the lady of the old place here?
Thats me. There was a tap here once. I need water.
Sorry. You can fill up at my well.
Any other taps around?
Not for years, Im afraid.
Fine, Ill go to my own well.
Why didnt you use yours to start with?
I dont like wells, alright?
Youve got drinking water? Helen whispered.
Of course. I came prepared. Helen, head home. Youre just winding me up.
*** *** ***
The next morning, Emily was startled awake by piglet squealsthe sound took her straight back to childhood. But this house didnt smell of fresh pastry, no familiar footsteps, no banging doors; soon, tears welled up again. Why did she come here? Stress, probably.
But then the squealing returned. Where would a pig be? And footstepssomeone moving through the tall grass outside.
Oi, whos out there? Ill call the police!
Dont worry, its your neighbour. Ive come to fetch Hector.
Emily, still in her pyjamas, strode to the porch. What Hector? Dont mess me about.
Hector! The man called out to the weedy garden.
The grass rustled; out popped a small black piglets snout.
Hector, dont be shy, love. Lets go home.
The little pig nosed out of the grass, dodged Emily cautiously. Shed never seen a pig like that.
Is he pedigree?
Im clueless about pigs, honestly.
Why keep a piglet then?
Hes not mine. Wandered onto my land and moved into my shed. I checked the whole village; nobodys missing a piglet. Truth is, I got attached to him. Hes a mate, really. What if someone was going to butcher him and he escapedand I send him back?
How did you end up here with that sort of thinking?
With what? the man looked offended. Theres nature, fresh air, peace. Towns nearby. Youre not local either, I see.
What makes you say that?
For one, Ive not seen you here in three years. For another, your gardens all weedy. And youre pretty.
Right, sir, Emily snapped, eyes flashing, lets keep it civil. Im divorcing in a week, cant handle any more. Im fragile and on edge. I could snap. Actually, I grew up hereeveryone had piglets then. And dont stare at my hands; I can chop birch just as fast as pine.
Hector, lets go, its dangerous here, the man said, rolling his eyes. Just dont stress too much, please. Ive not finished the fence, and Hector loves your grass.
I dont harm kids or animals. Goodbye.
*** *** ***
The next morning, dog whining woke Emily again. First piglets, now neighbours, now dogs. She only came for some peace and clarity.
Yesterday hadnt been productive. Shed walked around the village, made a quick trip to the local shop. Didnt even call in anyone to clear the gardenlet the grass grow.
The whining returned at her window. Emily sighed, stepped outside and spotted a fluffy puppy.
***
She waited behind her neighbours gate, growing impatient. At last, the lock clicked and her neighbour appeared, rumpled in his pyjamas like hers. Hector snuffled at his feet.
Is this your puppy? Emily asked eagerly.
Why would you think that?
Youve no proper fencepiglets wander in; maybe dogs too.
Why not keep him? You need a dog in a place like this. I was just planning to visit the shelter this week.
Ive never had a dog. But you managed with a piglet.
Well then, lets call it a neighbourly gift. Name him, if you like.
Lets call him Chuck. I think it suits.
Only not Chuckmy names Charles. Feels odd to call my dog by my own name.
Well, then, perhaps Buster. Youve already got Hector snuffling about.
Buster and Hectorbrilliant! Thanks! And you are?
Emily.
Lovely name.
Emily hesitated at the doorstep, longing for escape but stuck with memories; a piglet, a puppy, but mostly, sorrow.
You can always leave, but for now, lets look after the pup, Charles suggested kindly. Ill teach you how to care for dogs. Maybe one day youll get your own. Theres more life in this home now.
He really wasn’t bad, like Helen had said. Helen was rarely wrong. Shed warned Emily about marrying a man with the surname Hughessaid it would be nothing but trouble. Maybe she was right.
Emily had thought the surname amusing. Now she was stuck in a house with no running water and an outside loo. Emily scratched her knee, wishing for a shower.
Whats this, a pyjama party? Simons voice unexpectedly called out.
*** *** ***
Meet Charles, Emily sighed. Simon, this is Charles. Charles, Simon. My husband. Soon to be ex-husband. Why are you here, Simon? How did you find me?
Wasnt hard. Your gates wide open, as is your door. I came to ask if youve reconsidered divorce. But, from the look of things, you havent. All that drama, and here you are with someone else already? How longs this nonsense been going on?
A while, Charles replied seriously. Emily wanted to spare your feelings, but since you insist Whens your divorce final? Well get married that day, wont we, love?
Emily choked but kept her face neutral.
Alright then, Simon muttered. Polly came around the cottage, brought her boyfriend. Talk to her, shes probably trying to ring you. Here you are prancing about.
Simon waved and left. Emily looked at Charles, puzzled.
Why did you say that?
What else could I do? Youve got an old house, no water or gas, only an outdoor looyoull always be asking for my help. Youll drag every stray animal my way. Lets just do this properly. Move in. I dont mind, honestly. My wife and I split up long agolifes lonely. I dont need casual women. Just you. We wont have kidsthere are enough animals. Youve got a daughter; Ive got two. Well enjoy life. Ill refit your house. You find it gloomy. Can we drop the formalities and use first names?
Are you off your rocker? And how do I know youre not a maniac? Dont get too closeIm processing my divorce and betrayal. Youve been warned.
*** *** ***
A year later, they married, got a cat, and turned Emilys old house into a home.
Life, she learned, doesnt always follow the path you planned, but new beginnings can be found in the most unexpected placeseven amongst piglets, puppies, and kindly neighbours. Sometimes, the courage to change your story is all you need to start living it.
