She came home to find her husband gonevanished, along with all his belongings.
“Well, why are you looking at me like that?” smirked Poppy. “Stanley just wanted to prove hes a proper catch. Thats all there is to it.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“The honest truth, love,” drawled Stanleys ex-wife.
“I dont understand” murmured Emily, bewildered.
“Aha! Heres Stanley nowhell explain everything,” Poppy nodded toward the distance.
Emilys mother, Margaret, had raised her like a delicate, precious bloom.
Margaret herself was a stern woman, running her own timber yard with an iron fist.
But with her only daughter, she softenedher voice turning gentle, lullaby-sweet, her eyes brimming with tenderness.
So Emily grew up delicate, fragile, trusting.
Shed never known hardship, attending an ordinary school and music lessons, happily learning the piano.
She didnt become a great musician, but she made a wonderful teacher.
All she needed was a good marriage, and along came a charming suitorOliver.
He courted her beautifully, spending his modest chauffeurs wages on her.
Such sweet words, such tender looks
But her mother disapproved.
“A layabout and a fool!” Margaret declared.
“Mummy, but I love him,” Emilys bright blue eyes filled with tears.
“Fine, fine,” her mother relented. “But youll live with me!”
Their spacious three-bedroom flat had room enough, and the newlywed husband didnt mind living with his mother-in-law, who spent most days at work.
Oliver had nothing to his name.
But soon after the wedding, his true nature surfaceddrinking, disappearing, snapping at his young wife.
Around Margaret, he kept up appearances, though barely.
Emily refused to see his flaws.
Nine months after the wedding, she gave birth to little Alfie and rejoiced in their little family.
But Alfie was sickly, needing constant attention, and Oliver grew worse.
She endured, hoping things would improve.
Her patience ended when her mother died suddenly, having only a year to cherish her grandson.
The funeral was handled by Margarets old friend, Geoffrey.
Oliver didnt come home at all during those days, and when he finally appeared, his packed bags waited in the hallway.
He threatened lawsuits, property division.
Emily didnt react.
Geoffreythankfullyshoved the almost-ex-husband out the door.
A lawyer with decades of experience, he ensured no assets were divided.
Emily and Alfie never saw Oliver again.
Of course, Emily couldnt run the timber yardprofessionals hired by Geoffrey took over.
So their shrunken household wanted for nothing.
Losing her mother and divorcing was hardno friends, no relatives.
But she had Alfie, who needed herso she poured herself into him.
Men (Geoffrey didnt count) were out of the question.
That day, she and five-year-old Alfie left the paediatric clinic, huddled under a large umbrella against the rain.
Waiting indoors was pointlessthe downpour wouldnt end soon. Emily didnt drive, and taxis were impossible to book.
So they risked the weather.
“Hop in, quick!” Before theyd gone twenty meters, a car screeched to a halt beside them. The driver leaned over, flinging the back door open. “Come on, come onI cant park here!”
Somehow, danger never crossed Emilys mind. She recognized the mantheyd crossed paths at the clinic, where he brought his son, around Alfies age.
“Thank you!” she gushed after the ride (theyd chatted, of course).
“Dont mention it!” Stanley grinned. “Can I have your number?”
She stiffened.
“Sorry, I dont date married men,” she said, cutting him off and heading inside with Alfie.
She never expected to see him again so soon, but the next day, Stanley waited in the courtyard.
“Im not married,” he blurted, handing her divorce papers. It had been finalised a month prior.
Was she lonely? Was Stanley too charming? Did Alfie adore him instantly?
Later, Emily couldnt fathom why she agreed to let him join their walk, then stay for dinner.
After that, they met nearly every day, and she fell harder.
So hard, she wasnt even surprised when he proposed a month later.
Of course. He loved her. He doted on Alfie.
The boys affection sealed itAlfie idolised Stanley, calling him “Dad” before the wedding.
“Dad” didnt mind, and Emily was overjoyed.
Naturally, after the marriage, Stanley suggested adoption.
“Always wanted two sons,” he said, then darkened.
Emily squeezed his shoulder. She knew his ex-wifenow with a wealthy blokebarred him from seeing his son.
Three months after meeting, they were a proper family.
The only secret? Emilys finances.
The timber yard, though modest, brought steady income (split three ways with partners).
She saved itfor Alfies education, his future flat. Everything was for him.
No need for Stanley to know.
Geoffrey had taught her that, before retiring “to the seaside.”
If Stanley suspected, he never let on.
But the idyll lasted less than a year.
Gradually, he grew colder, returning from work sullen, snapping.
“Dont mind me, just the boss,” hed say at first.
“Cant you transfer?” she fretted. “Youre a brilliant electrician.”
“ll sort it.”
Soon, he stopped explainingjust scowled or snarled.
He left Alfie alone, but his irritation was obvious.
Emily didnt know what to thinkuntil clarity came brutally.
That day, she and Alfie strolled the park, waiting for Stanley to join them for ice cream.
“You shouldnt have agreed to the adoption,” a mocking female voice cut in. “The boy will suffer.”
Emily turned. A striking brunette in a bright orange coat perched beside her.
“Do I know you?”
“No. But we can fix that,” the woman smirked. “Im Poppy. Stanleys ex-wife. Temporarily ex.”
Emily stared. Thank God Alfie played nearby, oblivious.
“Why the look?” Poppy grinned. “Stanley just wanted to prove hes a catch. Simple as that.”
“What are you saying?”
“The truth, sweetheart.”
Poppy was older by five years but gazed down with icy amusement.
“I dont understand”
“Ah! Heres Stanleyhell explain,” Poppy nodded past her.
Stanley approached, tense, eyes darting between them.
“Stanley, enlighten the girl,” Poppy rose, ruffled his hair, and sauntered off. “Well be waiting!”
“Why the look?” Stanley echoed, baffling her further. “Whatever Poppy saidyes, I married you to spite her.”
He exhaled sharply.
“She kept at meWhod want you? Acting like she tolerated me, that our son was my only shot.”
Then she flaunted her wealthy new man, Max. So I snappedfiled for divorce.”
“Why adopt Alfie?” Emily choked out.
“To make it real. New wife, new son, living the dream!” Stanley admitted. “I spotted you at the clinicknew youd fit.”
“As a gullible wife?” she managed a crooked smile.
He stayed silent.
“What now?” She already knew.
“Dunno,” he muttered. “Guess I got used to you.”
He chose quickly. That night, he didnt come home.
Next morning, after dropping Alfie at nursery, Emily returned to an empty flatno Stanley, no trace of him.
She sighed, dialling Geoffrey. She needed a lawyer again.
