Leave and never come back.
James, Ive been looking at the listings this evening. Theres a threebed flat for sale in the area weve been eyeing, exactly what we wanted. We have enough for a deposit, dont we? If we sell the house, we can help Lucy clear her mortgage. Lets drive over and have a look, Emma says, her eyes bright with anticipation. James merely waves her off, fatigued.
Not today. I was working on a report until midnight last night, and Ill probably be late again tonight, he replies, gulping the last of his coffee, grabbing the car keys and a folder of papers, and stepping out.
Emma sighs, unwilling to argue. Shes uneasy about how rarely James has been home lately. He comes back late, even works weekends, but his salary is good, and Emma desperately wants to move closer to her daughter. For years theyve saved for a house, putting every penny James earns into a savings account while living on his mothers pension and Emmas wages. She works as the manager of the village community centre and runs a dance club. Its tough, but living in the city near her daughter and working in a big Arts Centre has always been her dream, so she tolerates the strain.
James and Emma met in the county town when he was a finalyear engineering student and she was studying choreography at a performing arts college. They fell in love so quickly that, as soon as James got his degree, they married and moved to his hometown. Emma left her course after a year, but she never regretted it; she now has a husband and a future together.
Their married life, however, hits a snag straight away. Within weeks of moving into Jamess family home, James is called up for a year of National Service. Emma is already upset about the separation, and his mother, Margaret, makes matters worse. From the moment Margaret sees her son return with a wife, she despises Emma, refusing to speak to either of them and reminding James of a promise he made.
Emma tries to win her over, taking on any chores, but nothing works.
Why didnt you call Mum before we married? What did you promise her? Why does she hate me? she asks James.
James explains that two years ago his sister died at seventeen after falling for a reckless boyfriend who had just been released from prison for a fight. The couple rode a motorbike to a neighbouring village; the boyfriend was drunk, lost control, and the sister was killed. Her fiancé went back to prison for a long stretch. After the funeral, Margaret forced James to swear never to marry without her blessing. He promised, yet he married anyway, and Margaret feels betrayed.
James hesitates about letting Emma stay with his mother, but Emma declares she will not move out because she loves him and will do anything to get along with Margaret.
Within a couple of weeks, Margarets heart softens. She sees Emmas hard work, cheerfulness and kindness, and admits that James has chosen a worthy wife. Emma also shares that her own mother died eleven years ago; her father raised her alone until he remarried a woman with two small children. The stepmother told Emma she must fend for herself now that shes an adult.
My marriage isnt about those things, Emma says, cheeks flushing under Margarets stern gaze. I got a hostel place, a scholarship for good grades I cant live without James. I love him, I love him deeply.
Margaret, eyes welling, embraces Emma, her tears mixing sorrow and relief. She feels a weight lift from her heart.
A year later James returns, taking a job at the district office and commuting daily. Emma becomes an organiser at a local club and heads the dance group. Their wages are modest, but they welcome a baby girl, Lucy. Money is tight, yet Margaret helps, babysitting and never holding back.
Soon James lands a position at a major firm, begins travelling for work, and climbs the corporate ladder, his salary swelling. The small village club is replaced by a spacious Arts Centre, and Emma is appointed its manager, though she still runs her beloved dance club, leading the girls to prizewinning competitions. Their lives settle into comfort: they buy a nice car, renovate their home, and take seaside holidays.
Everything is fine until Lucy moves to the county town for university and gets married. Emma misses her daughter and, recalling her dream of working in a grand Arts Centre, proposes that they sell the house, buy a threebed flat in the town where Lucy lives, and use the proceeds to help Lucy pay off her mortgage. James thinks it over, then gladly agrees, noting that his firm has a branch there, so he can transfer. He warns that their income will have to go straight into a bank account while they live on Margarets pension and Emmas earnings. The whole family consents, and they start saving.
Life becomes noticeably harder, but Emma doesnt complain; shes never been spoiled. James, however, begins staying later and later at work, citing extra responsibilities that bring extra pay. Emma trusts him, yet the long hours gnaw at her. When she hesitantly brings it up, he snaps, Im working from dawn till dusk to earn more. Stop nagging me! Decide whether you want me at home or a flat in town. Do you want a grandkid to visit by bus or a quiet life? Just bear with it.
Emma endures, though her nerves fray. One night James arrives at half past one, and she finally says she wont move anywhere else; she wants him home in the evenings so they can spend time together, visit friends, and be a proper couple. James listens, strips, and lies down facing the wall. The next day he returns late again.
Then James vanishes. He leaves for work in the morning and never comes back that evening. By the next morning his phone is switched off, and Emma cant reach any of his colleagues because he never spoke about his job. She calls the morgue and hospitals, cries through the night, and decides to drive to the town where his firm is based.
As she packs, Margaret stands nearby, sighing heavily, eyes rimmed with sleeplessness.
Dont worry, Mum, hell be found, alive and well, Emma says as calmly as she can, hugging her. She tries to reassure herself, but tears well up, her throat tightens, and she whispers, Hes out there, I know it.
A familiar voice calls from a minibus stop. Hey, Emma, heading into town? Well go together. Did you hear theyre buying a new car? Maybe you could sell yours cheap?
What are you talking about? Emma asks, confused.
The bank told me James withdrew a huge sum from his account a few days ago. I thought maybe he was planning something, her friend replies, shrugging. I was paying the council tax and saw the transaction. You didnt know?
Emmas face turns pale. The money must have something to do with whatever happened to James. She drives to his former office, only to learn from the receptionist that he left the firm weeks ago, moving to an undisclosed job. She files a missingperson report; the police take her statement seriously and promise a search.
The next day a detective calls her in.
Why didnt you tell us you divorced three months ago? he asks, irritated. That changes everything. Did you find any of his documents at home?
Emma looks at him, bewildered. Shes shown a copy of a divorce decree and a marriage certificate, though she never signed any papers.
Back home she tells Margaret everything. Margaret gasps, covering her mouth, eyes wide with fear.
What? Emma demands.
Forgive me, its my fault, Margaret whispers, hands trembling. James warned me that court papers would be sent to you about a loan fraud. He asked me to hide them so you wouldnt be upset. He said a good judge was his friend. I didnt know it was a real divorce. He forged it. I had no idea.
So he tricked me into a divorce? Emma whispers, sitting slowly on the sofa. Where is he? What happened?
Margaret, eyes glistening, says, He texted me this morning that hes left with another woman, wedding soon. He took all the money, saying it was his salary. She sobs, I thought Id move into a care home and transfer it to you, hoping youd forgive me.
Emma rises, steps outside, shivering as if a cold wind has entered her soul. She remembers the lilac bushes and birches they planted by the fence years ago, now towering trees, stronger than their marriage ever was. She recalls winter sled rides with Lucy, the pig that escaped from the farm and the familys uproarious chase. Tears spill as the emptiness swells in her chest.
I wont let you go, Mum, Emma says firmly, returning inside. James betrayed me, not you. I love you as my own mother, and I know you wouldnt hurt me. She embraces Margaret tightly.
Later that night, Emma and Margaret call Lucy, sharing everything. Lucy is horrified by her fathers actions and says she will never forgive him. She then invites her mother and grandmother to move in with her.
Originally I wanted to surprise you later, but we need you now. Were having twins soon, and well need the space. Our threebed flat has room for everyone. Will you sell your house and come?
Emma and Margaret exchange glances, smile through tears, and agree.
James visits the town once, but Lucy wont let him in. Perhaps he hoped to return, perhaps not, but no one waiting for him remainsnot even his mother.
