What are you doing here? Emily asked, her voice edged with caution.
Im back, as you can see, Tom said, flashing a grin and gesturing toward the bags of belongings.
Since when? Emily tilted her head. Its been six months.
Emily, I cant bear this, Tom exhaled heavily. The thought that I left you alone tears my soul apartmy heart feels like its being ripped. How can you suffer like this?
Im suffering? Emily echoed.
At least you dont have to paint yourself in front of me, Tom smirked. You can pretend to the world that my leaving meant nothing, that youre fine.
I know how hard it is for youalone, with the child!
Emily hummed thoughtfully.
Did you change the lock? Tom clanged a set of keys in his hand. It must be broken! Heres proofI didnt oil the lock in time, so it gave way.
Emily fell silent, unsure how to answer as the lift above them creaked open.
Dad? Sam called, bewildered.
Yes, son! Tom sat down and opened his arms. Ill live with you again. Come, let me hug you!
Sam glanced at his mother, who gave a small nod.
Alright, Emily said, come in, youll see.
Tom entered the flat as though he owned it, yet he moved toward the kitchen as a guest.
In the hallway a new key shelf and a fresh shoe cabinet appeared. The light fixture was different, and the interior doors were brand new.
When Emily passed the bathroom behind Tom, she flicked a switch.
Whats that? Tom asked.
You remember it was always damp in here, right? Emily reminded him. I installed an extractor so I wouldnt have to keep the door shut.
About twenty minutes never mind, she waved off. Tea, coffee?
Make some coffee, Tom said, perching on a stoolanother new one.
Emily pulled a capsule from a jar, dropped it into the machine, and pressed the button.
Ill just change my clothes, she smiled.
No problem, Tom replied, gesturing calmly.
Not only the stool and the coffee maker were new; the pots were different, the tiles now formed a decorative apron rather than the old vinyl Tom had once stuck on, and towel hooks had appeared by the sink.
When Emily returned in her homegym tracksuitshe used to wander around in a robeToms mood had shifted entirely from the one hed arrived with.
Whats that man youve brought home? Tom snapped.
Who? Emily asked, bewildered.
Who is the bloke youve let into the house? I need to know whos raising my son! And, by the way, were not divorced yet!
Have a coffee, Emily said with a grin.
No, look at her! Tom exclaimed. I felt sorry for her, I came back, and now shes doing whatever, with a living husband! Emily!
Drink your coffee, Tom commanded.
Ill pour this coffee over your head right now! Tom leapt up. Whats happening here? I demand answers!
***
Six months earlier Emily had decided her life was over. The shock was beyond anything she could name.
Emily, I think our marriage has run its course, Tom had announced. The feelings are gone, the warmth is gone.
Nothing remains that tied us together. Living together just for Sam feels like a huge sacrifice.
Divorce? Emily asked, fear trembling in her voice.
Lets not rush, Tom replied. I could be wrong, terribly wrong. Lets live apart for a while, not divorced. I wont be visiting, but if you truly need me, you can call.
Just dont keep ringing me! he warned. I might already have a new life.
That was another blow. Emily read his silence as something else.
Dont bother with official maintenance payments; bureaucracy isnt needed. Theyll only assign you up to fifteen thousand pounds.
Ill give you that for the coming month, then Ill transfer as my salary comes in. You understand, were adults, we each must support ourselves.
Ill still contribute for Sam. So, thats thatdont take offence.
Emily felt lost between sky and earth. Nine years of what shed called a happy marriage collapsed in an instant. She could not recall any warning. Everything had seemed fine.
Why had Emily decided her life was over? Because, as an adult, shed known nothing but the marriage. Her independent adulthood had begun with a Mendelssohn march, waiting for her degree to approve their wedding.
Later life had her always with Tomhe drove her to interviews, helped with paperwork, took her to the hospital, attended the prenatal appointments, even insisted on a partner birth.
Father must accept his son in this world, Tom had said when they brought their newborn home, surrounding Emily with love and care, fresh renovations, and new furniture.
They were lucky; no mortgage weighed them down. Emilys parents had passed a inherited flat to a distant aunt, so money was there for repairs and furnishings.
Socially nothing was unusual. Tom let Emily manage the household, and he didnt rush when she asked for help. Their families got alongToms mother and sister liked Emily, and Emilys parents got along with Toms family. Gatherings were at a big table, never a word of insult.
When Sam grew older, Emily returned to work, but Tom stopped giving her rides as his schedule changed. She got her fathers car and paid for her driving lessons. If the car broke down, shed ask Tom to tow it, but he refused, saying workshops treated womens cars unfairly and overcharged. So she handed him the keys and said something happened.
Emily was never a mere ornament on Toms neck. She solved household matters herself, calling Tom only when she truly needed him. At work she was respected, climbing two rungs up the career ladder in five years. She still ran to Tom with joy for her successes; he was always there in spirit, until he left.
Emily drifted, knowing what to do, but subconsciously searched for Toms eyes. When she couldnt find them, everything slipped from her grasp.
Her parents noticed her despondence. Her mother fretted, and her father, David Andrews, took charge and visited her.
Darling, life throws all sorts of things at us, David said gently, but thats no reason to lose heart. Its hard to understand, harder to accept, but life doesnt stop.
Dad, everythings falling apart! Emily sobbed. I have no strength or desire to do anything.
Emily, well always support you, David replied kindly. Youre smart, youve always been a good girl. Dont disappoint us.
His words cut through her tears. She lived on autopilot for a month, not changing anything Tom had left behind, until something strange happened that delighted her.
If you picture a math problem, Emily simply crossed Tom out of the equation and solved it anew, getting completely different answers. She discovered she didnt need to clean every day; the house stayed tidy for four to seven days even with an eightyearold son. Laundry became far less frequent, the detergent bottle lasting three months. The stove no longer needed to run three hours a daycooking every other day was enough, far less than before.
Money? Her household budget now consisted of her own salary and child support of fifteen thousand pounds, yet at months end she somehow had twentyfive thousand pounds left.
Did I miss something? she wondered, Did I fail to pay anything?
Everything fell into place, and the house was comfortable.
Emily had long wanted new interior doors, and now she had the cash. The shop said they could supply installers. Two sturdy young men arrived, hauled the old doors to the bin, fitted the new ones, and even swept up after themselves. Emily imagined how much Tom would have fussed over this, how she would have had to coax him into changing them.
Money in the pocket sparks purchases. She bought a key shelf, a new hallway light, a shoe cabinet, and stared at the boxes, thinking of inviting Tom to hang and assemble them. But she remembered hed asked not to be pulled back.
Tom for an hour? she whispered to herself. Why not?
It turned out cheap and quick. A handyman arrived, listened, nodded, and an hour later said, All set. I washed my hands in your bathroomso damp! Dont worry about mould, just keep the door open.
Ventilation could be added, he muttered. You have a vent, we could fit an extractor, link it to a switch. Half an hours work, a modest fee.
Can you do it? Emily asked.
Tomorrow after lunch, does that suit you?
Easy, simple, no need to begjust pay and its done, no squeaks, no complaints! the handymans words lifted Emilys spirits, and plans for further improvements began to swirl in her mind.
Sam was on holiday, so Emily decided to take him to his grandmothernot her own mother, but Toms mother. Even though Tom had left, there was no quarrel with the motherinlaw. The grandparents got along, chatted about nothing, and Toms sister was also there, sharing the latest celebrity gossip.
Three days later Tom burst in, proclaiming, Im back!
***
You could demand when you were my husband, Emily replied. Now just have a coffee and get out!
Im not going anywhere! Tom shouted. Im still your husband! I returned, back home! I felt sorry for you, so you wouldnt disappear without me!
As you can see, Emily said with a smile, I havent disappeared. Youre only my husband on paper now, but thats easy to fixsomething Ill attend to very soon!
Tom stared at Emily, bewildered. In his mind, the logic refused to settle: How could I be noble, not tear the family apart, and yet be rejected?
Dont want coffee? Then go, Emily waved her hand as if shooing a fly, I still have lessons to do with Sam!
Relations with the former motherinlaw and sisterinlaw soured instantly. Of coursewho else could tell Tom that Emily hadnt burned from grief after he abandoned her? They were the ones who sent Tom to save Emily from her own wellbeing.
