What are you doing here? Lucy asks, her tone wary.
Im back, as you can see, Victor says with a grin, gesturing to the bags of his belongings.
Why now? Lucy tilts her head. Its only been six months.
Lucy, I cant just stand by, Victor sighs heavily. If I think Ive abandoned you, my heart shreds. It feels like its about to burst, and I watch you suffer.
Im suffering? Lucy repeats.
Well, at least I dont have to put on a show for anyone, Victor smirks. You can tell the world my leaving meant nothing, that youre fine.
I know its hard for youalone, with a child!
Murmuring thoughtfully, Lucy replies, Mmm.
You changed the lock, didnt you? Victor rattles a bunch of keys. It must be broken. Heres proof I didnt oil it in time, so it gave out.
Lucy stays silent, unsure how to answer, as the lift dings and opens on the floor.
Dad? a small voice asks.
Yes, son! Victor sits down and opens his arms. Ill live with you again. Come, hug me!
Charlie looks at his mother, who nods, giving permission.
Alright, Lucy says, come in, youll see.
Victor steps into the flat like the owner, but into the kitchen as a guest.
A new key shelf now stands by the hall door, along with a fresh shoe cupboard. The light fixture has been swapped, and the internal doors are brandnew.
When Lucy walks past the bathroom after Victor, she flicks the light switch.
Whats that? Victor asks.
You remember how damp the bathroom always was? Lucy replies. I installed an extractor so I dont have to keep the door open.
Its been about twenty minutes never mind! she waves off. Tea or coffee?
Make me a coffee, Victor says, taking a seat on a new stool.
Lucy pulls a capsule from a jar, drops it into the coffee machine, and presses the button.
Ill just change my clothes, she says with a smile.
No problem, Victor replies, gesturing calmly.
The kitchen now boasts new pots, a tiled backsplash instead of the old plastic film Victor once stuck on, and towel hooks beside the sink.
Lucy returns in her tracksuita step up from the old dressing gownswhile Victors mood has shifted dramatically from when he first arrived.
Whats that supposed to be? Victor snaps.
Who? Lucy asks, confused.
What man did you bring home? I need to know whos raising my son! And were still not officially divorced!
Drink your coffee, Lucy says with a grin.
Look at her! Victor shouts. I felt sorry for her, came back, and now shes doing whoknowswhat while Im still married! Lucy!
Victors voice rises into a command, Drink the coffee!
Ill pour this coffee over your head right now! he exclaims, leaping up. Whats happening here? I demand answers!
—
Six months earlier, Lucy decides her life is over. The shock feels indescribable.
Lucy, I think our marriage has run its course, Victor declares. The feelings and warmth are gone.
Theres nothing left that ties us together. Living together just for the sake of the child is a huge sacrifice.
Are we getting a divorce? Lucy asks, voice trembling.
I suggest we dont rush, Victor says. I could be wrongmaybe Im making a big mistake. Lets live apart for now, not divorce yet.
I wont promise to visit, but if you truly need me, you can call.
Please, dont keep calling. I might already have a new life!
Victors silence feels like another blow.
Dont bother with official maintenance payments; bureaucracy isnt needed. Theyll set it at no more than fifteen thousand pounds.
Ill give you that for the next month, then Ill transfer it when my salary comes in. Everyones an adult, we all have to support ourselves.
Ill still pay my share for the son, so you can handle the rest. No hard feelings.
Lucy feels lost, caught between sky and earth.
Nine years of what she thought was a happy marriage collapse in an instant. She cant recall any warning signs; everything seemed fine.
Why did she think her life was finished? Because, besides the marriage, nothing else filled her adult world.
Her independent life had only begun when they waited for her university degree so they could plan the wedding.
After that, everything revolved around Victor: he accompanied her to interviews, helped with paperwork, drove her to work, and met her there. He attended every prenatal appointment when Lucy was pregnant, even supporting a joint birth plansomething Victor insisted on.
A father should meet his son in this world, hed said.
Victor had also surprised Lucy with fresh renovations and new furniture. They were lucky not to have a mortgage; Lucys parents had left her a legacy flat from a distant aunt, covering the costs of the renovations.
Victor gave Lucy space to manage the household, and he never ran around if she asked for help. Their families got along wellVictor got along with Lucys parents, and Lucy became friendly with Victors mother and sister.
When holidays came, everyone gathered around a big table, and no one ever hurt each other with words.
As their son grew, Lucy returned to work, but Victors schedule changed, so he stopped driving her to and from the office. Lucy managed on her own, receiving a car from her dad and paying for her drivers licence. If the car broke down, shed ask Victor to take it to the garage, but Victor refused, citing the autoshops bias against women.
Lucy never became a housewife filler for Victor; she solved household issues herself, calling on Victor only when she truly needed him. At work, she earned respect for her diligence, climbing two rungs up the career ladder over five years.
She still ran to Victor with joy when she succeeded, and they celebrated together. Victor had been present in every breath of Lucys life until he left.
Lucy felt adrift, searching for Victors gaze even when she knew what to do. When she couldnt find him, everything fell apart.
Lucys parents noticed her depression. Her mother grew worried, and her father took charge, sitting down with Lucy.
Sweetheart, life throws all sorts of things at us, says David Anderson, her dad, after hearing the cause of her distress. Its not a reason to lose heart. Its tough to understand and accept, but life doesnt stop.
Dad, everythings slipping from my hands! Lucy sobs. I have no energy or desire to do anything.
Lucy, your mum and I will always support you, David says kindly. But you need to get your head in the game. We raised you to be smart and capable. Dont disappoint us.
The tears stop. Lucy drifts through the next month in a kind of inertia, unchanged from Victors time. Then something strange happens, pleasantly surprising her.
If she thinks of it like a math problem, she simply removes Victor from the equation and solves anew. The answers look completely different.
She discovers she doesnt need to tidy every day; the house stays orderly for four to seven days on its own. Laundry becomes far less frequent; the detergent bottle lasts three months without emptying.
She also learns the stove doesnt have to run three hours dailycooking every other day is enough, far less than before.
Money? Its odd. Victors salary vanished from the family budget they used to balance each month. Now only Lucys pay and the £15,000 in maintenance arrive. Yet at months end, £25,000 remains.
Did I miss something? she wonders, anxious. Did I forget a payment?
Everything aligns, and the house is comfortably supplied.
Lucy has long wanted new interior doors. With the extra cash, buying them isnt a problem, but who will install them? The store says they have installers.
Two strong young men arrive, haul the old doors to the rubbish bins, fit the new ones, and even sweep up after themselves. Lucy imagines how much Victor would have complained, how shed have had to persuade him to change the doors.
Money in the pocket sparks purchases. Lucy buys a key rack, a new hallway light, and a shoe cupboard. She looks at the boxes, thinking of asking Victor to help assemble them, but remembers his request not to be pulled back.
Just a man for an hour? she muses. Why not?
It turns out cheap and quick. A handyman shows up, listens, nods, and after an hour says, All done. Ive cleaned the bathroom, and theres no damp. Not worried about mould?
Its an ongoing issue, Lucy shrugs. I just keep the door open.
Ventilation could be installed, the handyman suggests. You have a vent duct; a extractor and a switch would take half an hour and a bit of cash.
Can you do it? she asks.
Tomorrow after lunch work for you?
Easy, simple, no fussjust pay, and its done without drama. The idea excites Lucy, and plans for further improvements start forming in her mind.
Charlie is on holiday, so Lucy decides to take him to Victors mothers house, not her own. Even though Victor left, theres no tension with his mother. The grandparents and grandson get along fine. They chat about nothing in particular, never bringing up Victor. His sister is also there, and they discuss the latest TV shows with Kate.
Three days later Victor bursts in with the mantra, Im back!
—
You could demand things when you were the husband, Lucy replies. Now just drink your coffee and go away!
Im not leaving! Victor shouts. Im still your husband! Im back, home! I felt sorry for you so you wouldnt disappear without me!
As you can see, Lucy smiles, you havent disappeared. But youre only a husband on paper now. Ill fix that very soon.
Victor looks at Lucy, utterly baffled.
How could this happen? I showed kindness, didnt tear the family apart, and yet Im not accepted!
Dont want coffee? Then go, Ive got lessons to do with my son! Lucy waves a hand as if swatting a fly.
The relationship with his motherinlaw and sisterinlaw suddenly sours, which is understandable. Who else would tell Victor that Lucy didnt melt from grief when he left? They were the ones who sent Victor to save her.
