Leave and never look back.
Eleanor, I saw a notice last night for a threebedroom cottage for sale in the town weve been eyeing. Its exactly what we need, and we could afford it, shouldnt we? Once we sell the farm we could help Rose with her mortgage. Lets go see it, Eleanor stared at her husband with eager eyes, but he waved her off with a tired sigh.
Not today, love. I was up until midnight finalising a report yesterday, and Ill probably be late again this evening, he said, gulping the last of his coffee, snatching the car keys and a folder of papers, and stepping out.
Eleanor breathed a disappointed sigh, unwilling to argue. She disliked that Thomas had hardly been home of late. He arrived late, even worked weekends, but his salary was good, and Eleanor longed to move closer to their daughter. They had been saving for years, squirrelling every penny Thomas earned into a bank account, while living on his mothers modest pension and Eleanors wages as the caretaker of the village community hall and the leader of a dancing club. It was a hard life, but the thought of living in the town beside Rose and working in a grand cultural centre had always been her dream, so she endured.
Eleanor and Thomas met at the county council offices. He was then a fifthyear engineering student, she a pupil at the local dance academy. They fell in love so quickly that Thomas married as soon as he got his diploma and they moved to his familys hamlet. Eleanor left her studies after just a year, but she never regretted it; the man she loved was now her lawful husband, and she was certain they would spend a long, happy life together.
Their marriage, however, began under a cloud. Soon after they settled in Thomass cottage, he was called up for a year of National Service. Eleanor was already uneasy about the impending separation, and then his mother, Martha Clarke, made matters worse. The moment Martha saw her son return not alone but with a wife, she took to hating Eleanor on sight, refusing to speak to her and reminding Thomas, You promised! Eleanor tried everything taking on chores, offering help but the matriarch stayed cold.
I asked you to speak to Mum beforehand, why didnt you call her? What did she promise you? Why does she despise me? Eleanor pressed.
Thomas explained that two years earlier his younger sister, Lily, had died at seventeen. She had fallen for a wayward fellow whod just been released from prison after a threeyear sentence for a fight. She ignored her mothers warnings, ran away with him, and one night they set off on a motorbike to a neighbouring village. The young man, drunk, lost control; Lily was killed, and the boy was sent back to prison for a long stretch. After Lilys funeral, Martha made Thomas swear never to marry without her permission. He swore, yet he married anyway, and the old woman felt betrayed.
Thomas wavered whether to let Eleanor stay with his mother, but she declared she would not go anywhere, for she loved him and would do anything to win Marthas favour. And she did. Within weeks Marthas heart thawed; she saw in Eleanor a hardworking, cheerful, kind young woman. Though she often complained about her son, she could not deny that Eleanor was a worthy match. Eleanor also confided that her own mother had died eleven years before, and her father had raised her alone until he remarried a woman with two small children. The stepmother made it clear that, now that Eleanor was an adult, she must fend for herself.
Dont think I married Thomas because of that, Eleanor blushed under her motherinlaws frowning gaze, I was given a place in a hall of residence, I earned a scholarship for my studies; I would have survived. I cannot live without Thomas, I love him, I love him dearly.
Martha first frowned, then embraced her daughterinlaw, tears of grief and relief streaming down her cheeks. She accepted Eleanor as a daughter, and suddenly felt a weight lift from her heart, as though some longstanding sorrow had loosened.
A year later Thomas returned, taking a post at the district council and commuting daily on a shift pattern. Eleanor secured a job as the organiser and head of the towns dancing club. Their wages were modest, and soon after their daughter Rose was born. Money was tight, but Martha helped them endlessly, babysitting and never withholding anything. Later Thomas moved to a reputable firm, travelling for work, and his promotions swelled his salary. The modest village hall was replaced by a spacious cultural centre, and Eleanor was appointed its caretaker, while she kept running her beloved dance club, ferrying the girls to competitions where they often won prizes. Life settled into comfort: they bought a reliable car, renovated their home, and holidayed by the sea.
Everything remained pleasant until Rose left to study in the county town and married there. Eleanor missed her daughter and, recalling her own ambition to work in a grand cultural palace, suggested they save to buy a flat in the town where Rose lived, sell their cottage, and help Rose clear her mortgage. Thomas thought it over a moment and agreed, noting that their firm had a branch there, so he could transfer. He warned it would be tough: his entire salary would have to go into a savings account, and they would live off Marthas pension and Eleanors earnings. The family council approved, and they began to save.
Life grew harder, but Eleanor never complained; she had never been pampered. Thomas, however, started staying later and later at work, claiming extra responsibilities that brought higher pay. Eleanor trusted him, never suspecting ill intent, yet his prolonged absences gnawed at her. When she tentatively voiced her worry, Thomas snapped:
I work from dawn till dusk to earn more, and youll sit there whining? Decide what you want me at your side or a flat in town near our daughter? A grandchild on the way, and youll be shuttling on a bus? Then be patient and bear it.
Eleanor endured, though peace never truly came. One night, after Thomas staggered home at half past one, she finally broke down, saying she no longer wanted to move, that she would be content to live as before if only he would be home in the evenings, share activities, visit friends, and sleep together as a loving couple. Thomas listened, stripped off his coat, and lay down facing the wall in silence. The next day he arrived even later.
Then, without warning, Thomas vanished. He left for work in the morning and never returned that evening, nor the next. His phone was switched off, and Eleanor could not contact any of his colleagues hed never spoken of his job to her. After frantic calls to the morgue and hospitals, her fear turned to dread, and she resolved to travel to the town where his firm was based.
As she gathered her things, Martha stood beside her, breathing heavily, her tired face showing a sleepless night.
Mother, do not worry, hell be found, alive and well, Eleanor said as calmly as she could, hugging her motherinlaw gently.
Eleanor tried to convince herself, but tears welled, her throat tightened with terror, yet she clenched her teeth and whispered, Hes alive, I know it.
A familiar voice startled her a friend from the bus stop called out, Emily, you heading into town? Well go together. Didnt you say you wanted a new car? Maybe you could sell yours cheap?
What are you on about? Emily asked, bewildered.
Your Thomas withdrew a large sum from the building society a few days ago, I thought he was buying something, the friend shrugged. I was paying the council tax and saw the transaction. Are you unaware?
Emily went pale. The money must have something to do with his disappearance. In town she rushed to his office, only to learn from the secretary that he had recently resigned. Hed moved to another job, but no one knew where. Determined, she filed a missingperson report. The police took her statement seriously, promising a search.
The following day a detective called her in.
Why didnt you tell us youd been divorced three months ago? he asked, irritated. That changes everything. Perhaps he left without informing you. You didnt find any of his documents at home, did you? He took everything with him?
Emily stared at the officer, wondering if he confused her case with another. He produced a copy of a court decree and a marriagedissolution certificate. She felt the world tilt.
When she returned home she told Martha everything. Upon hearing of the divorce, Martha gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with shock.
What? Emily managed after a minute.
Forgive me, its my fault, Martha whispered, trembling. Thomas told me that legal papers were being served in my name because scammers had taken out a loan in your name. He asked me to receive them and hide them from you so you wouldnt be upset. He promised a goodnatured judge would sort it. I only just realised that was the court he meant. He arranged the divorce that way. I knew nothing of it until now.
So he divorced me deceitfully? For real? Emily whispered, sinking onto the sofa. I dont understand. Where is he? What happened?
Marthas voice softened further.
This morning he texted me, saying hes gone with another woman and theyll marry soon, she said, eyes brimming. He took all the money, saying it was his wages. She choked on her words, tears spilling. I thought Id move into a care home and transfer it to you, hoping youd forgive me.
Emily rose, stepped outside, and stood in the courtyard, shivering as though an icy wind cut through her bones, though the chill lay within her heart. She recalled, many years ago, planting lilacs and two birch trees by the fence with Thomas, now towering like sturdy witnesses to a marriage that had once seemed unbreakable. She remembered winter days when Thomas pulled young Rose on a sled down the lane, the time a runaway pig escaped from the farm and the whole family chased it, laughing at the squeals. A sudden wave of tears flooded her, emptiness and pain crushing her chest.
I wont let you go, Mother, she said firmly, returning to the house. Yes, Thomas betrayed me. I dont know why he was so cruel. I was terrified for his life. Was it really for money? She lowered her head, then lifted her gaze to Martha. He betrayed me, not you. I love you as my own mother and know youd never hurt me. She embraced Martha tightly.
That night, sobbing until dawn, Eleanor and Martha called Rose and told her everything. Rose, horrified by her fathers actions, swore she would never forgive him. She then offered her grandparents a place in her home.
Id planned a surprise later, but we need you now. Were expecting twins, so we need you, Grandmothers. Sell your house and move here. Our flat is threebedroom; therell be room for everyone. Will you agree?
Eleanor and Martha exchanged a tearstreaked smile and accepted.
Thomas did visit the town once, but Rose never let him into the flat. Perhaps he hoped to return to the family; perhaps not. By then, nobody not even his mother waited for him.
