She hadnt arrived yet. Lately, hed been swamped with work, staying later each evening.
Emily tucked the children into bed and wandered to the kitchen for a cup of tea. William still hadnt come home. These days, the office kept him until all hours.
She pitied his exhaustion and shielded him from household worries, for he alone provided for the family. When they married, they agreed she would tend the home and future children while he secured their comfort. Three little ones followed in quick succession. William delighted in each, declaring he had no plans to stop.
But Emily, worn thin by endless childcare, decided to pause any further additions to their brood.
William stumbled in past midnight, slightly merry. When she asked why, he grinned.
“Em, the lads and I had a long dayneeded to unwind a bit.”
“Oh, you poor love!” Emily smiled. “Let me fix you a bite to eat.”
“No need. We had a few nibbles at the pub. Best turn in now.”
Mothers Day approached, and Emily, leaving the children with her mum, headed to the high street. She wanted to celebrate properlya romantic supper for two. Her mother happily took the little ones for the evening.
Beyond groceries and gifts, Emily decided to treat herself. It had been ages since she bought anything new, and she hesitated to ask William for money, knowing shed nowhere to wear it. Her last purchase had been a sensible housedresshardly fitting for the evening she envisioned.
She stepped into a boutique, selecting several frocks. As she slipped on the second, she heard a familiar voice from the next stall:
“Mmm, cant wait to take this off you!”
A womans laughter followed. “Patience, you devil! Go pick something for your wife instead.”
“What for? Shes buried in the childrenthey dont care what she wears so long as she feeds them. Ill get her a toaster or a blenderthatll please her!”
Emily felt as if icy water had been dashed over her. Silently, she continued dressing, ears straining through the thin wall.
“What if she asks where the moneys gone? A toaster doesnt cost much,” the woman teased.
“Why must I explain how I spend MY wages? I workshe stays home doing as she pleases! She gets her allowancethats enough. Let her be grateful!”
The fitting concluded, voices fading toward the till. Emily peered out carefully. There stood William, paying with a blonde at his side. He kissed her, heedless of the shopgirls stare.
“Are you all right, miss?” the assistant asked, noticing Emily still in the stall, frozen.
“Fine, thank you!” She handed over the dresses. “Ill take them all.”
Back home, after her mother left and the children napped, Emily sat pondering. She hadnt expected such betrayal from William. Worse than the infidelity was his scorn for all she did.
She longed to bolt, demand divorce at oncebut forced herself to think clearly.
“If I leave, hell run off with that woman, leaving me and the children penniless. Alimony? Barely enough to scrape by. What then?”
That night, William didnt linger at the office. “Sated this afternoon,” Emily thought coolly. Her feelings for him had vanishedhe was a stranger now. She dreaded any intimacy, revolted at the thought.
But William, satisfied elsewhere, kept his distance.
The next morning, Emily drafted her CV, sending it off to firms across town. Then, the waiting begandays taut with nerves, checking her inbox each dawn. At last, a reply came: an interview at a local company. Ironically, Williams workplace. After much deliberation, she went.
Leaving the children with her mother again, she faced the panel. Two hours later, they offered her a decent role with flexible hours. The pay wasnt lavish, but enough to start anew.
Returning home, Emily brimmed with joy. Her mother, noting her glow, pressed for answers.
“MumWilliams been unfaithful!” Emily burst out, relief mingling with triumph. Her mother, fearing hysteria, guided her to the sofa.
“Emily, love, how can you say such things? William? Hes at work day and night!”
“Hes not workinghes with his mistress!” Emily spilled the tale of the changing room. Her mother listened, then asked,
“What will you do now?”
“Divorce him! And Ive got a jobflexible hours. Soon, Ill enroll the children in nursery. Once theyre settled, Ill work full-time.”
“Good for you, love! No forgiving such treachery. Hes lost all respect. Ill help with the little ones.”
“Thank you, Mum!” Emily hugged her tight.
On the seventh of March, William returned late again. Emily ignored him. Surprised by her indifference, he stammered,
“Em, the lads and I were snowed under”
She cut him off. “Just go to bed.”
Next morning, as she served the children breakfast, William approached with a gift: a blender.
“Here, loveto make things easier.” He leaned for a kiss, but Emily stepped back, ignoring the box.
“Ive a gift for you too.”
Baffled, he followed her to the hall. Two large suitcases waited.
“Im filing for divorce. No more lies. Get out.”
“How did you?” William paled.
“In the changing room, picking presents for your blonde. Give her the blenderI dont need it.”
Shock twisted into fury.
“Jealous, are you? Shes lovelycares for herself, unlike you! Youve forgotten how to dress, living off me and the children! MY moneyIll spend it how I like! You cant stand me spoiling someone elseselfish cow!”
Emily replied calmly, “Not jealous. Just done. Now go.”
Next day, she filed for divorce and child support. A week later, the doorbell rang. His mother, livid, stood there.
“Gold-digger! Throwing him out, then clawing at his wages! Drop the claimhe owes you nothing!”
“He owes his children,” Emily said. “If he cant afford his mistress, thats his problem. These are his kids too.”
“Whatll you do without him? Had them thinking youd freeload forever? It wont work! Hell cut his official salaryyoull get scraps! Youll come crawling back!”
Emily pointed to the door. “Outbefore I call the police.”
Cursing, the woman left.
Months passed. The children settled into nursery. A month after the youngest started, Emily took on full-time hours.
“Hello.” A familiar voice sounded by her desk. “Can we talk?”
“Sorry, William. Im busy.” She didnt look up.
“Lunch, perhaps?” He lingered, looking haggard. She knew the blonde, learning half his wages went to the children, had dumped him. But it meant nothing now.
“No, William. Weve nothing left to say.”
