“If only you knew what your precious sister was up to in the capital, you wouldnt even mention her, let alone boast about her,” muttered Michael under his breath as he stood a few steps away from the gossiping women.
“My daughters such a clever girl!” bragged Susan to the neighbours. “She aced all her exams with top marks! And she even manages to earn a bit on the sidehasnt asked us for a single penny!”
“I envy you, Susan! My lot only know how to ask for money,” sighed the other woman. “And theyve no interest in studying. My Maggie says shell marry the first bloke she meets after collegeclaims a husband should provide. And my son well!” She waved a hand, utterly disappointed. “Your Emilys a proper go-getter, making her own way in life.”
“Oh, of course she is,” Michael whispered to himself, itching to go home. But with his dad at work, the honour of carrying shopping bags fell to him. “If only you knew what your darling sisters really doing, youd never bring her up again.”
“Did you say something?” Susan shot him a sharp look. Couldnt the boy wait five minutes? She hadnt even finished sharing all the details.
“Yes, Mum. Ive got a presentation and an essay due tomorrow. Maybe save the bragging for another time?” Michael replied calmly.
“You and your father! Never let a person get a word in! Fine, lets go”
Michael shrugged, catching the relieved glances of the neighbours. They hadnt bargained for an audience with Susan the proud mother, who never missed a chance to gush about her daughteras if Emily were some sort of saint the rest of the world should emulate.
But he knew the truth. And he kept quiet. No need to upset his mother
***
“Does an Emily Miller live here?” A disdainful woman stared Susan down, flanked by two stern-looking men.
“My daughters at university in London,” Susan replied proudly. “What do you want with her?”
“University? Emily? Youre having a laugh,” the woman scoffed. “She dropped out after her first term. Failed every examhardly surprising, since she never attended a single lecture. Too busy chasing rich men.”
“How dare you slander my daughter? Ill sue you for defamation!” Susans voice faltered as murmurs rose from behind nearby doors. Letting this woman inside would mean admitting she might be right. But turning her away? What would people say? Truth or lies, theyd lap up the gossip either way.
“Let them in,” Michael cut in. “No point giving the neighbours more to whisper about. Mum, step aside.”
“But Michael!”
“Let them in.”
For a sixteen-year-old, he sounded older just thencalm, but tense. He led the visitors to the sitting room, gesturing for them to sit. The woman smirked and took the armchair, while the men remained standing.
“Michael! How can you invite them in? Did you hear what she said about Emily?”
“I heard. Thats why I let them in,” he snapped. With his dad away, he was the man of the house now. Damage control was his job.
“Susan, you obviously dont know your daughter as well as you think,” the woman drawled. “Any idea where she is now?”
“Youre rightshes in London. But not in student halls,” Michael said bitterly. “Shes renting a flat, paid for by her boyfriend. No, I dont have the address. But I do know hes married, twenty years older, with three grown children. And filthy rich.”
“His name wouldnt happen to be Gregory, would it?”
“Let me guessyoure his wife?” Michael tensed. Just how deep was his sisters mess?
“Thank God, no. His sister. And Im sick of cleaning up his messes,” the woman said coldly. “Gregorys got a lovely wifedaughter of his business partner. And shes not thrilled about his little side arrangements. A divorce would be inconvenient.”
“So youre here to tidy things up, then?”
“Clever boy,” she murmured. “Any idea where your sister is?”
“Not me. But her best friend might. Ill call herbut first, I want to know your plan. Shes my only sister.”
“Michael, whats going on? What boyfriend? What flat? Whats happened to my Emily?” Susan paled. Michael bolted to the bathroomwhere Mum kept her pills.
“Should we call an ambulance?” The woman sounded almost guilty.
Michael shook his head. Hed already dialled 999 the second hed grabbed the pills. Dr. Victoria, their kind family GP, promised shed be there in five minutes.
“Michael how did you know all this?” Susan whispered, refusing to believe it. Her daughtera mistress? How could she face anyone now?
“Remember when Emily last visited and her phone broke? She borrowed my laptop to message her friend. Forgot to log out. So I read the chats. Asked her straightshe didnt deny it. Just begged me not to tell you.”
His heart ached for his mum. She was good, kindher only flaw was bragging about her children. Hed blushed plenty himself over her tales of his trophies and medals.
Later, once Susan was settled in bed with the doctor, Michael returned to the visitors. “So whats your plan for my sister?”
“Simple. Ill give her money and introduce her to some eligible bachelors. Unmarried ones. If shes smart, shell land herself a husband.”
“Right. Give me a minute,” Michael sighed, dreading the call. Emilys best friend was difficult. He spun a tale about celebrating her “brilliant grades”what better gift than a surprise delivery?
“Here.” He handed the woman a slip of paper. “Hope you keep your word.”
“Always do.”
On her way out, the woman announced loudlyfor eavesdropping neighbours: “Apologies for the fuss. Needed privacy to clear up this misunderstanding. Hope no nasty rumours start. Not that your lot would gossipgood people here, Im sure.”
Rumours did spread, but faintly. Susan shut them down fast, defending her daughters honourthough she stopped bragging and barely left the house.
Michael and his dad agreed: theyd move. Susan couldnt face the neighbours, knowing shed been living a lie.
One sunny day, they left. “Off to London,” Michael told curious onlookers. “Better doctors there. Mums health hasnt been great lately.”
Emily never visited again. She married well and forgot her family entirely.
