Whens dinner ready?
Itll be ready when you make it. Her mother-in-law lowered her glasses. Nicholas, does your wife expect me to cook while she lazes about?
Natalie ignored her, gathered her things, and headed for the hallway. Her mother-in-law followed. Where do you think youre going?
On holiday! Goodbye!
Natalie set the heavy bags down with relief.
Im home!
Muttering came from the living room before the source appeareda man in his late thirties or early forties, dressed in joggers and slippers.
Must you always shout, Natalie? This isnt your village. Act civilized.
You couldve at least helped me. You know I got paidgroceries needed buying.
Nicholas sighed loudly. Good grief! What groceries?
He turned and walked away. Natalie exhaled heavily. Shed had enough.
Working two jobs to keep the house running while her husband, backed by his mother, spent years writing another useless book. The first one was a flopapparently, no one understood *real* art.
She unpacked the shopping, tossing things into the fridge. Tomorrow, her holiday began. The flat needed deep cleaning, laundry, ironingall under her mother-in-laws watch. Exhausting.
Eleanor Parker poked her head in. Natalie! Sitting down already? Planning to feed your husband? Hes worked hard todaymust he wait?
Earned much, has he?
The words slipped out. Once, shed admired himthe aspiring writer whod sworn hed be famous. Shed trembled under his mothers gaze, desperate to please. Then stayed silent out of guiltwhen shed been on maternity leave, Eleanor had supported them.
Eleanor spun around. *What* did you say?
I asked if hed earned much. Usually, work brings money home.
How *dare* you! Nicholas spent all day plotting his next chapter! You wouldnt understand*mental* works beyond you!
Snorting, she left. A thought struck Natalie: Why am I here?
Her son had been with her parents for ages. His laughter and play disturbed Nicholass creative process. Another masterpiece no one would read.
She yanked open the fridge, repacking food into a larger bag. Her pay and holiday money were in her pocket. Shed buy treats and a gift for her boy.
Grabbing her things, she passed Nicholas glued to the telly. Whens dinner?
Itll be ready when *you* make it.
Eleanors glasses slid down her nose. Nicholas, your wife expects *me* to cook while she lounges?
Natalie ignored them, heading out. Eleanor chased her. Whats this? Where are you going?
On holiday! Goodbye!
She didnt wait for a reaction. Hauling the bag downstairs, she called a cab. Sixty miles? So what. Just this once.
James was asleep when Natalie arrived at her parents. He woke, rushing to hug her. She held him tight. How shed missed him.
Her mother studied her. Whats happened? You left Nicholas? Wholl look after him?
Her mother had never approved. Visits had ended after shed roused Nicholas at dawn, putting him to work in the garden. His love for country air had evaporated.
Enough, Mum. Im on holidaya whole month!
Her mother smiled. Thank goodness. Rest, spend time with James.
Natalie lay with him, tracing his features in the moonlight before sleep took her.
Morning brought unfamiliar smellsbaking. James was gone. Stretching, she sighed. Bliss.
He reappeared. Gran made *loads* of pies! A whole tray!
After breakfast, Natalie asked, What needs doing?
Rest first.
This *is* restdifferent work.
Her mother pointed outside. Weeds. Cabbages, cucumbersno time.
By the third row, Natalie found satisfaction in tidy beds. She smiled.
Never seen someone weed so happily.
She looked up. *Ethan!*
She flung her arms around the man stepping into the garden.
Called on your dad for keys, heard youd come. Couldnt leave without seeing you.
Ethan, her childhood neighbour. At ten, shed trailed after him, smitten. Hed been fifteenkind, never mocking. Then hed joined the army, married, moved away. A decade since theyd met.
Why are *you* here?
Divorced last month. Came back to Mum.
Oh. Not my business.
That evening, Ethan and his mother hosted a barbecue. Laughter, no filtersNatalie felt *alive*.
Two weeks later, her mother asked, Going back?
Dunno. Jobs there, but no home.
Rent somewhere. Stay. Well find work. And Ethan You *see* how he looks at you?
Mum! Thats nostalgia.
Hes a good man. Steady job in the city.
Natalie laughed. Trying to marry me off?
Her mother shrugged. You suit each other.
Ethan left for work. Natalie missed him absurdly.
Nicholas bombarded her with callsaccusing, threatening eviction. She laughed. Hed never registered herhow would he *remove* her? Then silence. Strange, but welcome.
Ethan returned with a toy car for James and another invite. Her mothers knowing look made her flushshe *was* ridiculously happy.
As kebabs sizzled, a car pulled up. A young woman marched in. Ethan! Done hiding? Time to come home.
*Olivia*, whyd you track me here?
Natalie understood. Wifeex, current, irrelevant. She took Jamess hand, slipping away.
Then a taxi arrived.
Out stepped Nicholas and Eleanor.
Look at her! Gallivanting while her husband suffers!
Why are you here?
Natalie clenched her jaw. These people *repelled* her.
Holiday over! Home! A husband needs supportmeals, cleaning!
Got a job, then?
Eleanor spluttered, but Nicholas cut in. Im *writing*! Not menial labour!
Natalie snapped. Youre a *failure*. What have you done for this family? *Nothing*. You and your mum leech off me. Im *not* coming back. Just collecting my things*everything* I bought.
She turned, finding Ethan smiling by the gate. Well handled.
Olivia was arguing with Nicholas and Eleanor.
Natalie didnt stay. After marrying Ethan, she and James moved to his city. He insisted she quit the factorynow she sorted papers in an office. Embarrassed by the small wage, shed apologized.
Ethan had frowned. Your moneys *yours*. *I* provide for us.
Nicholas remarriedOlivia. Now Eleanor supported *two* freeloaders. Rumor was, shed soon persuade him to abandon writing for factory work.
Funny how things work out. Broken in one place, mended in another.
