Long ago, in a quiet village near York, under the shadow of an old apple tree, stood a cottage that held more memories than its walls could bear.
“What are we doing here? Why are we breaking into someone elses house?”
“Its over, Emily. I want a real familychildren. You cant give me that. Ive waited long enough. Ive filed for divorce. You have three days to pack. Call me when youre gone. Ill be staying with Mum. HurryI need to prepare the flat for my child and her mother. Yes, dont look so shocked. My future wife is expecting!”
Emily said nothing. What could she say?
Children had never come. William had waited five years. Three failed attempts. The doctors, whom Emily had consulted endlessly, insisted she was healthy. Why, then, had it never happened? She had lived rightly, carefully.
This time, shed fallen ill at work. The ambulance was called, but it all happened too quickly
The door slammed behind William, and Emily sank onto the sofa, drained. She had no will to gather her thingsnor anyplace to take them. Before marriage, shed lived with her aunt. Her aunt was gone now, and her cousin had sold the house. Return to her grandmothers cottage in the countryside? Hunt for a rented flat? What of her job?
Too many questions, and all needed answering at once
Early the next morning, the door creaked open. Her mother-in-law stepped in.
“Not asleep? Good. Ive come to ensure you dont take what isnt yours.”
“Your sons old socks are hardly a treasure. Shall I count mine for you?”
“Cheeky, arent you? And to think you used to be so meek. I warned William after the first timeyoud never bear a child.”
“Did you come just to say that? Better to sit quietly and watch.”
“That chinawhere are you taking it?”
“Its mine. A keepsake from my aunt.”
“Now the place will be empty without it!”
“Thats no concern of mine. At least youll have a grandchild.”
“Take only whats yours!”
“The laptop is mine. The coffee maker, the microwavegifts from colleagues. My car was bought before the wedding. Your son has his own.”
“You have everythingexcept the ability to bear children!”
“Thats no longer your business. Perhaps it was Gods will.”
“You dont even regret it! Did you plan this?”
“Dont be absurd. It hurts even to think of it.”
Emily scanned the flat. Her things were gonebrush, cosmetics, slippers Had she forgotten something? Her mother-in-laws glare made it hard to focus.
Then she rememberedthe old figurine, a porcelain cat. Inside lay a small secret: a pair of earrings and a ring. Worth little, but priceless as her grandmothers memory. William had always called it clutter. Had he thrown it away? He stored unwanted things on the balcony. She opened the door
“Whats out there? Take your things and go!” her mother-in-law snapped. “Saying goodbye to the flat? Well, bid it farewell. Youll never have another.”
At last, the cat was found, its treasure untouched. Time to leave.
“Here are the keys. Goodbye. I hope never to see you again.”
Emily drove to the office. Still on sick leave, she requested a holiday.
“We all sympathise, but how will we manage? Three weeks enough? Stay in touchhalf our projects rely on you.”
“Fine. Itll help me forget. Thank you.”
“Need any help?”
“No.”
“Ill arrange your holiday pay and bonus.”
“Thank you. Thats a relief.”
She didnt hunt for a flat. She drove hometo the village. No one waited there. Her grandmother had passed three years prior. Her mother had died in childbirtha fate Emily now feared might be hers.
An hours drive brought her to the cottage. The apple tree. The tulips. Last autumn, she and William had grilled sausages here, laughing.
She parked on the gravel. The garage key was inside. She opened the door. Silence. Dirty cups and plates littered the table. Hadnt she cleaned last time?
Noshe had. Someone had been here.
Two mugs, plates, juice cartons, bottles of Williams favourite sparkling wine. Not from autumn.
So William had come. But with whom?
No matter. It didnt matter now.
Only she had a key. He must have made a copy. Time to change the locks.
A new life beganscrubbing, then a hot bath, washing away the past.
As she dressed, a knock came at the door, then at the window.
“Whos there?”
“Are you all right?” a voice called.
“Yes” Emily frowned, stepping outside. A stranger stood by the gate.
“SorryI didnt mean to frighten you. Im your neighbour. Saw smoke from the chimney and thought something might be wrong.”
“Thank you, Im fine.”
“Related to William? He was here recently with his wife Sister?”
“No. His soon-to-be ex-wife.”
“The cottage yours?”
“Yes.”
“Im a temporary neighbour. Staying by a friends grace. My divorce is nearly final. If youre all right, Ill go. Need help, just ask. Im Edward.”
“Emily. Waitcould you change a lock?”
“Of course. Tell me when.”
“Soon. Ill buy one tomorrow.”
“Let me fetch itIm heading to town.”
“Thank you.”
Two weeks passed. With a week of holiday left, Emily dreaded returning to York. William hadnt calledonly a message with the divorce date. Just as well. She couldnt bear to see him.
One Saturday, Edward invited her to walk by the lake. She hadnt planned new attachments, but a stroll was harmless. They returned for lunchto find Williams car parked outside. He stepped out, then helped a pregnant woman from the passenger seat.
Emily and Edward reached the gate as William jiggled the locked door.
“Whats this?”
“What are you doing here?” Emily asked. “Breaking into someones home?”
William froze.
“This is ours!” the woman shrilled.
“Yours? Did William say that? This is my cottage. Leave.”
“William! Who is she? Your ex? Throw her out!”
Emily and Edward laughed as William bundled his wife into the car and drove off.
“Cheerful life hell have,” Edward remarked.
“But shell give him a child. I couldnt. Three failures. Im sorry.”
Edward sighed. “My wife left because she refused to have one.”
Four years later, in a Leeds supermarket, Emily bumped into her former mother-in-law.
“EmilyI barely recognised you. You look different. Are you expecting?”
“Yes,” Emily smoothed her rounded belly.
“Williams life is a mess. The boy was born weaksomething wrong on his side. His wife left him with the child. And youdoing this alone?”
“Not alone. Ive a family waiting.”
“So thats how it is? Forgive me, for everything”
“Patience to you”
The woman watched Emily walk awayarm in arm with Edward, a little girl clinging to her mothers hand, her laughter echoing down the aisle.
