Hold on a minute! the friend snapped, cheeks flushed with indignation. And your ex isnt paying child support, is he?
I never really thought about it, Nina confessed, voice trembling. Besides we dont need anything from him. Hes got a new family now
Oh, dear what are you supposed to do? I could have asked you earlier. By law those payments belong to the children, not to you! No one should be bothered by his new wife and baby.
Nina was content with her own life. She and Ian raised their two little girlsEmily and Lucyin a cramped twobedroom flat in Manchester, both working long hours. Ian ran a modest haulage firm; his earnings were modest, but together they scraped by.
Ians old school friend, Katie, never liked him.
Hes lazy, slothful! she blurted at one of their monthly girls gatherings, never sugarcoating a thought. He could pick up a side giganyone couldbe a driver, a delivery lad! Instead he plops on the sofa after a shift! Look how tired he is!
We dont even own a car, Nina whispered, cheeks pink.
Then why not rent one? Its the 21st century, love! Katie laughed.
Hes kind, hardworking, never drinks, Nina defended fiercely. And he loves us girls!
Nina never held a grudge against Katie. Theyd been friends since primary school, and Katie always spoke her mind, never polishing her words. Behind the blunt exterior she was generous, ready to lend a hand or a few pounds until payday.
Life with men had been a series of missteps for Nina. Only in her thirties had she found true happiness and fled with Ian to the countryside. Now they spoke only on the phone, meeting once a year.
So when Ian suddenly announced he was leaving for another woman, Nina barely stayed on her feet.
Ruth and I are kindred spirits, he said, eyes flickering with a strange certainty. Were on the same wavelength, and shes even expecting a boy.
So youve been seeing her for long? Ninas voice cracked.
That doesnt matter, Ian waved a hand. What matters is Im moving in with her, and youll need to vacate this flat.
Ruth, a school nurse a decade younger than Nina, had met Ian a year earlier when Emily slipped on the playground and Ian drove her home himself.
It turned out the flat Ian had called his for years wasnt his at all. A wellmeaning relative had let him stay, and now that the relative wanted it back, Ian demanded the girls move.
Nina, who never handled the utility billsIan paid everythinghad no clue. The landlords name matched Ians, so she never looked at the statements.
Stunned, she didnt fling a fit. She packed a few belongings, hailed a black cab, and the family shifted into a spare room of a threebedroom house Nina had lived in before marriage.
She didnt lie to the girls. Elevenyearold Emily was unusually perceptive; she sensed the shift instantly, turned away from her father, and stood tall. Lucy mimicked her sisters calm.
Well still see each other, Ian tried to coo, but the girls ignored him.
Soon it was clear Ian had little desire to see his daughters. Of course Ill see them now, he muttered, Ive got a sonVictor!a little champion and heir!
It was the girls who pulled Nina back from the brink. For the first time she realised she would smash herself to pieces for them; no traitor dads were needed.
Living again in a cramped boardinghouse felt foreign. Uncle Joe, a heavydrinking neighbour, still hoarded his mates in the hallway. But Mrs. Vera, the elderly lady downstairs, became an unexpected ally.
Oh, my dear, she sighed, watching Nina wrestle with boxes, her voice soft with sympathy. Dont worry, love. There are plenty of blokes out there, and plenty of good folk too!
Mrs. Vera rallied the girls, pulling them into kitchen chores, coaxing smiles with tales of her own wild youth. She kept an eye on them after school, making sure they got home safe.
Nina picked up a second job, often returning home late. Emily, bright and responsible, helped with homework and looked after Lucy. Under Mrs. Veras watchful eye they learned to whip up simple meals, and their tiny bedroom stayed immaculate.
Youve got luck with the girls, Mrs. Vera winked.
I know, Nina replied, a tired smile crossing her lips.
Six months later the household settled into a rhythm. They cared for each other, helped neighbours, and even Uncle Joe seemed to drink less in the childrens presence.
Ian visited the girls only a couple of times, but flooded his new Instagram with photos of Ruth and baby Victor, all of which Nina learned about from Katie.
I cant believe it! Katie snapped, never losing her sharp edge even after marriage. He left you, and you never told me? How could you?
Katie, you know me I get anxious, I worry, but I cant let my condition get in the way Nina tried to explain, voice ragged.
What condition, you idiot? Im pregnant, not sick! Dont you dare bring my age into this! Katie fumed, eyes blazing. Spill it now!
Nina gave a brief, almost detached recounting, as if the pain were already past. Shed wept, shed moved on, shed found a new normal.
Normal, you say? Katie sneered. Im glad you and the girls are alive, but that that son of yours must pay!
Katie, why so bloodthirsty? Let him live!
Well see about that. Dont ever hide anything from me again, you selfishwoman!
A reluctant grin tugged at Ninas mouth; Katies relentless banter always lifted her spirits.
A month later, Ian burst in, eyes glittering with selfimportance.
Im rich now. My uncle passed away, left me a country house, a car, and a tidy sum, he declared grandly. Im taking the girls back. Theyll have proper rooms, a roof that doesnt leak, unlike this dump.
Are you mad? Nina gasped. You never cared about them before
I had nothing to give. Ruth just finished a psychology course. She says kids need a stable home with a father present. And youre always disappearing for work
What more do you want me to do on Ruths orders? Conduct another experiment?
If you object, Ian smirked, ignoring her, Ill take the kids through the courts.
Mrs. Vera stormed in just in time. Assessing the scene in a flash, she shoved Ian out the door with such force he stumbled onto the hallway carpet. He left shouting that hed be back.
What am I supposed to do, Katie? Nina sobbed into the phone. The flat is falling apart. The management company cant fix the roof for two years, the council will fine us, and my wages
Hold on a minute! Katie replied, bright as ever. And your ex still not paying child support?
I never got around to it. And we dont need anything from him. Hes got a new family
Oh, dear You ought to have checked earlier. By law the money belongs to the children, not to you! His new wife and baby are none of your concern.
I
You silly thing, forgive me! He should help with the housing! At least turn the TV on once!
I never have time for that. You dont know
I know. And while my babys not born yet, Im busy as a bee, so listen: I have a friend in your town, a solicitor called Alicia. Shell explain everything to you in plain English. Expect her call. And dont give me any more grief!
Alicia, a sharpeyed young lawyer with a mischievous grin, called Nina the next day.
Youll have to pay child support, a third of your income as the law dictates. Weve found a twobedroom flat to rent; youll cover half the rent, she said briskly. And youll also chip in for the girls medical expenses.
Nina, whats that about? Ian asked helplessly.
It means the girls will stay with me, Alicia replied, shrugging. The court will likely award custody to the mother, especially since the children want to stay with you.
In the end Ian agreed to pay the support, contribute to repairs, and drop any attempt to whisk the girls away.
Dont relax, Alicia winked. Well squeeze him until he helps you buy a new place. Everything will be alright.
Nina had no reason to doubt the energetic solicitor.
