“Dad, youve completely stopped talking to us,” said the eldest son, his voice tinged with confusion.
Helen didnt want to go home. She didnt want to hear those words: “Ive fallen in love with someone else.” Could anyone survive that, let alone understand it? And what about the children? They adored their father.
Switching on the lights in the flat, Nicholas confirmed no one was home. Textbooks were scattered in the boys’ bedroomevidence theyd been doing homework before rushing off without tidying up. He sank into his favourite armchair, covering his face with his hands, unsure how to start the conversation with his wife.
“Im exhausted,” Nicholas muttered to himself. “I hate coming back to an empty house.” He dialled one of his sons.
“Tom, where are you? Im home, but the place is empty.”
“Were at Grandmas with Mum. Shes feeling a bit under the weather. Well be back soon.”
Nicholass chest tightened. How was he supposed to explain this? Victoria was twenty-five, with fiery red hair and emerald eyes. She could have had any man, yet shed chosen hima man ten years her senior.
Lately, it had become harder to leave her side. Hed invented increasingly elaborate excuses for his lateness, even joking to himself that retirement might be the perfect time to take up novel writinghis alibis were that convincing.
Helen was sharp, a marketing manager respected for her quick mind, easygoing nature, and expertise. She was attractive, but not extraordinarynot like Victoria, who always greeted him in silk robes.
Hed always believed their marriage was solid. They were good parents. Helen balanced work and family effortlessly, always making time for the boys. No one could have predicted this.
The sound of a key turning in the lock startled him. His nerves frayed, he decided to postpone the conversation. Tomorrow. Hed tell her in the morning.
The boys burst in, chattering about school.
“Nicholas, will you have dinner?” Helen asked.
“No, Im tired. Ill just sleep.”
Lately, his behaviour had unsettled her.
At breakfast the next day, Nicholas sat sullen and silent.
“Dad, youve completely stopped talking to us,” his eldest repeated.
“Dont be ridiculous. Adults have problems they dont involve children in. Hurry up if you want a lift,” he snapped.
Helen packed lunches and handed out apples, her unease growing.
“Ill talk to him tonight,” she resolved, heading to work.
But Nicholas skipped dinner. He returned near midnight, offering no explanation. She heard him gulp water in the kitchen before retreating to bed.
After breakfast, as the boys got ready for school, she confronted him.
“Can you explain whats going on?”
“Well talk tonight,” he said flatly.
***
“Hes got another woman,” said Sophie when Helen confided in her.
“Dont say that. Weve been married ten years.”
“Thats exactly why he has. Turning away at night, coming home latesound familiar?”
“How would you know?” Helen frowned.
“Ive been through it. I recognise the signs.”
Helen dreaded returning home, dreaded hearing: “I love someone else.” But change required conversation, so she quickened her pace.
Alone at the kitchen table, she braced herself when the lock clicked. Tonight, Nicholas was in high spirits, even asking when dinner would be ready.
“Where are the boys?”
“Doing homework. But I can feed you without them.”
He nodded, eating while studying her. Smart, hardworking, gentle. Once, hed loved everything about herher hair, her eyes, her lips. Not anymore.
“Delicious,” he praised.
“Lets talk,” Helen said.
Nicholas reached for bread, chewing slowly. Silence stretched until the meal ended.
“Helen,” he finally said, avoiding her gaze, “Ive fallen in love with someone else. Im leaving. Ill still see the boys, but we wont be living together.”
A heavy exhale.
“Youre throwing us away for your own selfishness. Easier to abandon your children than deny yourself.”
He had no rebuttal. She was right. Hed fallen for Victoria and couldnt resist.
“Do I have a choice, or have you decided? Just knowif you leave, dont expect to come back.”
“I understand. But I wont return. Victorias pregnant. I cant abandon her with a baby.”
“Yet youll abandon yours? Your conscience must be dead.”
“Dont make this harder. Families split up all the timekids still have relationships with their fathers.”
“A baby, you say? Shes lying to make you leave faster.”
“Dont speak about what you dont know.”
“Fine. I dont care about either of you. How will you tell the boys?”
“Whats so hard? Boys, come here!” he called.
They stood before him. “Mum, were hungry. Homeworks done.”
“Your father wants to talk,” Helen said, stepping to the window.
“Eat first,” Nicholas stalled.
After dinner, the eldest pressed, “What did you want to say, Dad?”
Helen made no effort to spare him. She cleared plates, clattering them into the sink.
“Looks like Dads lost his way. Boys, your fathers met someone else. Hes leaving.”
“What about us?” they chorused.
“Youll have a new mum now. I wont be in your way.”
Under their stunned stares, Helen grabbed her bag, documents, cards, and a few belongings, then walked out.
“Dad is it true?”
Nicholas, stricken, couldnt speak.
“Bed. Now,” he barked, retreating.
***
Helen stayed with Sophie, who supported her unconditionally.
“You did the right thing.”
“Im so worried for the boys.” Tears spilled.
“Theyll be fine. Nicholas might be a scoundrel, but he loves them.”
Sleepless, Helen downed her first coffee at work, lost in thought.
Her future with Nicholas was overunforgivable. Now she saw their marriage for what it was: a failure. Memories of his year-long courtship, his promises of happiness, mocked her.
Hope was one thing; reality another. For years, hed played the devoted husband and father. Even Sophie had called him a good man.
But love had died under the weight of mistakes too grave to pardon.
Nicholas was undeniably at fault. All she wanted now was to see the boys. Finishing her coffee, she steadied herselfuntil the phone rang.
“When are you collecting the children? How could you leave them? Youre their mother!”
“How could you? We made vowsboth of us. Ive kept mine. And you? Traded them for Is this how you care?”
“Enough. Be home tonight. Understood?”
She hung up, but work was impossible. Words blurred on the screen.
Then, resolve hardened. Time to erase him from her mind. No hesitationhe was her ex. Decision made, she felt lighter. She needed her boys.
At lunch, Helen left work to fetch them from school. Tom spotted her first, sprinting over. Fifteen minutes later, Jamie emerged.
“Mum, I missed you.”
“I missed you too. Listenno matter what happens with Dad, Ill always love you. Always.”
“Mummy,” Jamie whispered. “I love you. I dont want a new mum.”
“I know, sweetheart.” She clasped their hands. “Dad loves someone else. He says he wont abandon youwell see. For now, youll stay with him and her. Ill visit daily. Ill always be here.”
Tom, older, understood. “Mum you wont leave us?”
“Never.”
She drove them home, then returned to work. Seeing them eased her.
Meanwhile, Victoria rang Nicholas, complaining: “You know stress is bad for me. Where have you been? Come tonight.” She hung up.
At home, the boys waited, homework done, watching TV.
“Wheres Mum?”
“Dunno.”
“Homework?”
“Done.”
“Pack up. Were moving.”
“To live with the new mum?”
“Yes.”
“What if we dont want her?”
“Since when do you get a say? Your mother leftshe doesnt want you.” Jamie opened his mouth, but Tom hissed, “Shut up.”
An hour later, they stood at Victorias door.
“Finally,” she said, swinging it open. Three pairs of eyes staredToms squeezed shut.
“Get dressed,” Nicholas told her.
She blocked the doorway. “This is my home. I dress how I like. Who are these?”
She moved to slam the door, but Nicholas shoved his foot in, barging past.
“Youll share a room. Well figure it out later,” he told
