Emma packs her bags and walks away from you.
“Where are you going?”
“What difference does it make to you? You clear out of the flat tooits mine and Dads. Im renting it out. I dont need layabouts here. Find yourself somewhere else to live.”
Emma came home from work and saw, once again, her husband drinking with his mates. He wasnt alonehis friends were there too. At the table sat their neighbour, Peter, and his brother, Nicholas, who was visiting. Theyd been celebrating his holiday for three days straight.
William, Emmas husband, rarely drank. Hardly ever, not even on holidays. But this time, with his friend in town, he couldnt say no.
“Youre either my mate or youre not,” Nicholas kept insisting.
“William, send your friends home. They can barely stand.”
“Shut it, woman!” Nicholas barked.
“Emma, well go now,” Peter said quietly, rising from the table.
“How dare you talk to my wife like that?”
“Calm down. Everyone out. Now.”
Emma shoved the guests toward the door, pushed William onto the sofa, and started cleaning. Her mother-in-law was due any minute. Let her see what her precious son was up to.
By the time Patricia arrived, Emma had scrubbed everything down and thrown together a quick dinnerthe guests had polished off whatever was left in the fridge. The scraps of their feast went straight into the bin.
“Patricia, Mary, Ive missed you both.”
“Mummy, Granny has a kitten! Its ginger. Grandad says its a sly little thing.”
“Mary!”
“Thats what Grandad says.”
“Wash your hands. Well have dinner and tea.”
“Wheres William? I called, but he didnt answer.”
“Passed out. Third day celebrating with the neighbour. Every night I come home and kick them out, and every morning it starts again. Might as well toss him out without his keys next time. Everything was fine until Nicholas showed up. Turns out hes staying for good. The flats in his and Peters name. Peters wife wont let them drink at hometheyve got little kidsso theyve all piled in here.”
“Theyve been friends since primary school. Ever since we moved here, theyve been inseparable. You cant just cut that off. You need to move.”
“Where? The house isnt finished, though its close. We need to go check on it. And how can I just leave him?”
“Hell come running after you.”
“Who will?” William appeared in the kitchen doorway.
“You. Who else? Here you are, lured in by the smell of foodor something stronger?”
“Dont want anything.”
“Good. Emmas packing her things and leaving you.”
“Where?”
“Whats it to you? Clear out of the flatits mine and Dads. Im renting it. I dont need freeloaders. Find somewhere else.”
“What do you mean, somewhere else? Our house isnt finished!” Nicholas looked stunned.
“Your house? Think againwho paid for it? Right, Emma and you. Except you used our money. That house belongs to Emma and Mary. Emma, dont just stand therepack your things and Marys.”
“Youre not taking my daughter!”
“Oh, Im terrified.”
“Shes mine. Emma has no right to her.”
“And when she stepped in as her mother, did she have a right then? You should be ashamed. She *is* her mother. And dont you dare say a word in front of her. Just pack your things.”
“Mum, Im your son! What about me?”
“And? The flat needs to be empty by tomorrow. Were leaving now.”
“Where?”
“To check on *their* house and hurry the builders along. Its nearly done. Well order the furniture while were at it.”
“And me?”
“Why do you care? Youve got your matestheyll put you up.”
“No, you cant do this.”
“Ive said my piece. Emma, got everything? Lets go. Take the car keys.”
“*My* car?”
“Youd rather we walked? Youre in no state to drive.”
“Well go to ours tonight, sort the house tomorrow,” Patricia said. “Its the weekend. Well air it out, take a breather. Let *him* think about what hes done.”
The next morning, William stood on his parents doorstep with his bags. His mother didnt make empty threatsif she said it, she meant it.
“What do you want?”
“Mum, you told me to clear the flat. Its done. Ill stay here for now, then find somewhere. Ill take Mary and Emma back. Where are they?”
“Theyre here, but soon were off to see *their* house.”
“Ive been looking for them. Mum, pleaselets talk. I messed up. Its the brothers. You know Nicholas and Peteronce they latch on, they dont let go.”
“Which is why you wont be living there anymore.”
Emma and William made up. She was hurt, but she believed him.
“No more mates, no more neighbours.”
“Rememberstep out of line, and youll never see Mary again. She stays with me. And the baby too”
“The baby? *Baby?!* Weve got to finish the house! I need to tell Mum!”
“Stop shoutingshe knows. Might not be a boy, might be another girl. Its still early.”
“Doesnt matter. Girl or boy. Youre my Emma.” William spun her around the room.
“Careful. Put me down.”
The family moved into their new house. Marys little brother was born right after.
“Mary, come meet your brother,” Patricia said.
“Hes so tiny. Mines bigger. Mummy gave him to me. Now Ive got two mums. Right, Granny?”
“Yes, love.”
“Im not little. *Hes* little. And Mummy promised wed get a sly, fluffy thing. Or”
“Mary!”
“Thats what Grandad says…”
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