“Dont worry, Clive! You had a cracking New Years at least!”
Here he was, back in his hometown. Clive stepped off the platform into the station square, heading for the bus stop. He hadnt told his wife he was coming back today.
His mood was sourhe was dreading the inevitable argument with Emily. Shed scold him again, call him a selfish git, moan about how he never cared.
But why “never cared”? Hed tried ringing her on New Years, hadnt he? Shed switched off her phonethat was her choice!
Three days hed tried calling, and shed ignored every one. Fine then, hed taken the hint and stopped.
And lets be honest, she hadnt even bothered to wish his parents or sister a happy New Year, let alone him. Hed bring that up the second he walked in.
She wasnt blameless either. If she wanted to play that game, hed play too. Best defence is a good offence, right?
Clive squared his shoulders and marched into the building, ready for battle.
The flat greeted him with silence.
“Oi! Anyone home? Emmy, Im back!” No reply.
He checked the kitchenempty. The first bedroomnothing. The secondsame. But then he noticed it. The cot by the wall was gone. The dresser with the changing mat on topvanished. The pram his in-laws had bought themnowhere in sight.
He yanked open the wardrobe. Her side was bare.
“Has she lost the plot? Left me?”
He dialled his mother-in-law. No answer. Next, he tried Katie, Emilys best mate. Dead air. Finally, he got through to Mike, Katies husband.
“Mike, mate! Put Katie on, cant get hold of her.”
“Shes at her parents in the village with the little onewe saw the New Year in there. Signals dodgy out there.”
“I got back yesterday, had work today,” Mike added. “Theyre still relaxing. Why dyou need Katie?”
“Just wondered if shed seen Emmy. Got home, flats empty. All the baby stuffs gone too.”
“Hold onwasnt your missus due any day now? You swanned off to your folks and left her alone over Christmas?” Mike sounded baffled.
“She didnt want to come! The due date was the tenthwed have been back in time.”
“Congratulations, you twit. Youre a prat.”
“Eh?”
“Youve likely been dumped, mate. Call the hospitalshes probably there.”
Ten days earlier
“I dont get it, Clive,” his mum had said over the phone. “Why sit at home over the holidays? If Emily wont come, you come alone. Shes got weeks leftyoull be back in time.”
“All the familys gatheringAunt Vera and Uncle Steve, Natalie and Vic, Olivia and Paul. Me and your dad, Vicky and Glen. Weve booked a countryside hotel, four nightsthirty-first to the second. Fancy dinner, live music. Paid for your spotyou can settle up later. Stay till Twelfth Night, then head back. Plenty of time before the baby.”
Emily hadnt budged:
“Clive, I could go into labour any day. Imagineeveryones celebrating, and suddenly Im in agony. The hotels miles outwhat if the ambulance takes ages?”
“No. Im not going.”
“Your mums rightwomen these days treat pregnancy like an illness and childbirth like a medal. She had three of you, barely took maternity leave, and managed just fine.”
Clive knew Emily had a point. But the thought of a quiet New Years Evejust the two of them, a modest spread (Emily had already said she wasnt cooking much)made him glum.
Meanwhile, his whole family would be dancing, singing, having a laugh.
So he went alone.
The hotel was brilliant. Just before midnight, Clive slipped out to call Emily. No answer.
“Fine. Sulking, are you? Your faultcouldve been here having fun.”
Next morning, his mum had a go at Emily:
“Not even a call to wish us Happy New Year! See how she disrespects us? Youve let that girl walk all over you, son.”
“She doesnt get family. Were all here togethershes there alone. Serves her right.”
But Emily hadnt spared them a thought that night. If anyone crossed her mind, it was Clivecertainly not his parents or their endless relatives.
Her folks, hearing shed be alone, had invited her over. No big doher brother, working shifts in London, hadnt the time off, so it was just her mum and dad.
At nine on the thirty-first, Emily and her mum were setting the table when the contractions hit.
The ambulance came. Her mum went with her; her dad followed in the car.
Emily saw in the New Year in hospital, her parents in the waiting room below. She had a boy
Clive took Mikes advice and rang the hospital.
“Reynolds? Discharged yesterday.”
“Already? The babys here?”
“Yes. First of January, half past midnight.”
“Who collected her?”
“Sir, we dont log that.”
Only her parents couldve picked her up. Shed be at theirs now.
He bought roses and headed over.
Knocked. His father-in-law answered.
“Can I help you?”
“Im here for Emily.”
“Why?”
“Im her husband.”
“Emily!” her dad called. “Some bloke here says hes your husband. Want a word?”
“No. Send him away,” came the reply from inside.
Her dad shrugged. “No luck. Cheers, mate.” The door shut.
Clive waited, then knocked again.
This time, his mother-in-lawtall, sturdy, loudanswered. Truth be told, she scared him a bit.
“Didnt you get the hint?”
“Let me in,” Clive blustered. “Ive got rights”
She snatched the roses and thwacked him across the face.
“Your rights? Your solicitor can explain those! Dont call againmy grandsons asleep.” She tossed the roses at his feet and slammed the door.
Clive trudged home, rubbing his facelovely roses, but with thorns.
First thing, he rang his mum.
“They wouldnt even let me in! Didnt see my own son!”
“Dont fret, love. Shell come crawling back. Wheres she going with a baby? Dont call, dont send moneylet her parents foot the bill if theyre so clever. A week or two, shell be back. Get some sleepwork tomorrow.”
Clive did just that: ate shop-bought dumplings and turned in.
He slept soundly, unaware it was his last night in that flat.
Next evening, he found his stuffboxed and baggedon the landing.
He knocked. His mother-in-law (who owned the place) answered.
“Well, dear son-in-law? Remember your hostel address, or shall I remind you? Take your junk. Whats left goes in the bin tomorrow!”
So Clive moved back to the hostel.
They divorced. Tired of hostel life, he thought about rentinguntil his first post-alimony paycheque arrived. After child support and spousal maintenance, there wasnt much left.
“Tighten your belt! Youre saving for a place,” Mike advised. “Cheer up, Clive! At least you had a cracking New Year!”
Emily stayed with her parents for three years. They helped with little Jake; the flat was rented out.
When she returned to work, she and Jake moved back in. After renovations, no trace of Clive or his family remained.
Sowhat do you think of Clives choices? Drop your thoughts below.
