**Diary Entry 15th June**
*”Youre not my wifewe never stood in a registry office, did we?”*
*”How am I your wife? Did we sign papers? Exchange rings? Or was that all in your head?”*
Emily lowered her gaze. Shed dreamt of all that, but years passed, and life rolled on without formalities.
*”No! No! And no!”* snapped Daniel. *”Youre nothing to me! What gave you the right to call yourself my wife?”*
*”Danny, talk to me, please!”* she pleaded, reaching for his hand.
*”Got anything useful to add?”* He pulled away. *”Youve already said enough!”*
*”But I didnt even”* she muttered.
*”Mark my wordssilence is golden! Especially for you!”* He turned pointedly to the window.
*”Stop sulking, love!”* She edged closer.
*”You shouldve kept your mouth shut!”* Daniel threw his hands up. *”How do women manage to wreck everything in one sentence? Do they teach it in school?”*
Emily assumed he was still cross about breakfastDaniel had smashed two mugs, his and hers.
*”How could you?”* shed fumed. *”Most people have hands, not wrecking balls! Yours is bad enough, but why touch mine? Wanted to leave me with nothing?”*
Just a silly row. The sort you shrug off. But Daniel had stormed to work and returned icy, ignoring supper despite her calling him three times. Time to make peace.
*”Oh, come onwell buy new mugs at Harrods on Saturday! And as for your handspractice makes perfect!”*
*”This isnt about mugs!”* His eyes flashed. *”Do you even grasp what youve done?”*
*”I can apologise”* she faltered. *”Dont be angry.”*
*”Apologise?”* He laughed bitterly. *”If sorry could undo your words, Id be over the moon! Instead, youve just buried me!”*
*”For heavens sake, what did I even say?”* It finally dawnedthis wasnt about crockery.
*”Who told my boss today that she was speaking to Daniels wife?”* He trembled with rage.
*”You were in the showerthe phone rang,”* she stammered. *”I answered, said to wait. She asked who I was. So I said his wife. When I passed the phone, shed hung up. Whats the crime?”*
*”Youre seriously asking?”* Daniels face purpled, a vein throbbing. *”What wife? Did we marry? Sign anything? Slip on a ring?”*
Emily swallowed. Shed dreamt of it, but
*”No! No! And no!”* he roared. *”Youre nobody! What gave you the right?”*
***
*”How longs this pantomime lasting?”* Margaret smirked.
*”Mum”* Emily frowned. *”Times have changed. Youre one to talkafter Dad, you played the field!”*
*”Dont slander your mother!”* She kept smiling. *”At my age, gossip slides off. But youre youngthink ahead!”*
*”Mum, fifty-five isnt ancient! You might still land a husband!”*
*”If a decent man turns upwhy not?”* She smoothed her silver strands. *”Till then, Ill make do with distractions.”*
*”Honestly!”* Emily snorted.
Then Margaret turned stern:
*”Em, I get itcohabitings common now. But legally? Its nothing. No safety net!”*
*”If theres love, who needs guarantees?”*
*”Love fadesthen what? A proper husband means alimony, shared assets. Without that, courts wont lift a finger!”*
*”Dan and I are fine! Six years together. Why ruin it? We earn the same.”*
*”Weak argument!”* She wagged a finger. *”Start hinting! Call him hubby, joke about wifely duties. Ease him in. Thenwalk the aisle!”*
*”What if I scare him off?”* Emily shook her head. *”Happiness is fragiledont push luck.”*
*”Your life,”* Margaret sighed. *”But remember: commitment marks adulthood. Yours is just messing about.”*
***
Her mums warnings stuck. Marriage was insurance. Even her mate Sarah agreed:
*”Imagine you get a mortgage. Its in Dans name. If you split?”*
*”Pessimist!”*
*”Say he gifts the flat to his nephew. Youd have no say! Court without a ring? Waste of time.”*
*”Id save receipts, find witnesses!”*
*”Or”* Sarah grinned slyly, *”just sign the papers.”*
*”Mum said to tease him with hubby. Ease him into it.”*
*”Well? Get on with it!”*
***
Emily began calling Daniel husband at every turn. He chuckled at first, then grew used to it. She almost believed the charadeuntil that fatal call: *”This is his wife.”*
***
*”Six years together!”* Her voice shook. *”I thought we were family. Kids, growing old”*
*”Shouldve stayed quiet!”* He paced furiously. *”Why involve Sarah Thompson? Now Im sacked!”*
*”But I always call you my husband!”*
*”Difference isyouve torched my career!”* He slammed his keys down. *”I wont marry youI wont even live with you! Packing now!”*
*”Youre serious? It was just a word”*
*”Sarah kept me on out of personal interest. Now Im married? Youre a thorn in her side!”*
***
A week later, Sarah herself knocked.
*”Sorry to intrude,”* she said, *”but I owed you the truth. Not about the sackingthe years of deceit. We all thought him single.”*
*”Were not married,”* Emily whispered.
*”Live-in girlfriend,”* Sarah corrected. *”But youre free now. And honestly”* Her lips twitched. *”Hes not worth it. Not a husband, not a partner. Just a prat.”*
Emily nodded. Nothing left to say.
**Lesson:** A title wont make a man. Some promises are hollow without the ink. Next timeIll wait for the ring.
