I still remember the house that stood on the edge of Manchester, empty of any trace of my late husband or his belongings.
Why do you stare at me like that? Zora smiled, her voice light. Stanley just wanted to prove to me that hes a proper man, and thats all.
What are you saying? I asked, bewildered.
The plain truth, love, the former wife of Stanley replied, stepping forward.
I dont understand a word of this, I stammered, feeling a shade of panic rise.
Ah, thats Stanley hell explain everything in a moment, Zora said, nodding toward the garden.
My mother, Anne Evans, had tended to me like a precious flower. She ran her own sawmill in the Yorkshire hills with an iron fist, but when she was with me her tone softened, her voice turned gentle and her eyes shone with affection.
Thus I grew up fragile, trusting, and never knowing sorrow. I attended the local school and the music academy, delighting in piano lessons. I never became a great virtuoso, but I did turn into a competent teacher.
All that remained was to find a husband, and a handsome driver named Victor soon appeared. He courted me with the modest wage of a bus driver, speaking sweetly and looking into my bright blue eyes.
My mother, however, could not bear him.
Good for nothing and a fool! Anne declared.
Mother, I love him, I whispered, tears welling in my eyes.
Fine, fine, she snapped, but youll live with me!
My threebedroom flat was spacious enough for all of us, and Victor had no objection to sharing the home with a mother who spent most of her days at the mill. He had little to his name beyond his own labour.
At first Victor was caring and tender, but after the wedding his true nature emerged: he began to drink, loiter about, and shout at me when my mother was near. He tried to keep up appearances, but even then the façade cracked.
I refused to see his flaws. Nine months after our wedding I gave birth to a son, little Leo, and rejoiced in the idea of a proper family. Leo was a demanding child, and Victor grew increasingly irritable. I endured, hoping for improvement.
My patience finally snapped when my mother died suddenly, having only a year to relish her grandchild. Her longtime friend, solicitor James Whitaker, arranged the funeral.
Victor disappeared for days; when he finally returned, a stack of his belongings waited by the hall. He threatened lawsuits and a division of assets, but I ignored him.
Thanks to James, who had spent a lifetime in the law, the former husband was pushed out of the house and no assets were split. The sawmill could no longer be run by me; it was taken over by trained men hired by James. Thus the oncebustling family found itself needing little more than the basics.
Coping with my mothers loss and the divorce was a lonely battle. I had no friends or relatives, only my son, whose need for care became my sole focus. I thought of no other men, James excluded.
One drizzly afternoon, Leo and I left the childrens clinic, trying in vain to hide beneath a large umbrella. Waiting inside was pointless; the storm would not clear soon, I had no car, and a taxi was hard to find.
We decided to take a chance.
Jump in quickly! a voice shouted as a car screeched to a halt beside us, the driver leaning over to fling the back door open. Quick, the parking here is forbidden!
I hadnt thought it reckless; the driver, a man Id seen in the clinic corridors with his own son about Leos age, glanced at us and smiled.
Thank you! I said to the driver, whose name was Stanley, after the short ride.
Youre welcome! Mind giving me your number? he grinned.
I hesitated.
Sorry, I dont date married men, I said, and, ignoring his protest, hurried away with Leo.
I never imagined we would meet again so soon, yet the next day Stanley was loitering in the courtyard.
Im not married, he said, handing me his divorce decree, signed only a month earlier.
Was I tired of solitude? Was he too cheerful and caring? Why did Leo take to him at once?
I never understood why I agreed to let this new acquaintance walk with us and even join us for dinner. From that day we met almost daily, and my affection for him grew.
Within a month he proposed.
Its right, he said, I love you, and Leos dear to me.
Leos affection sealed the deal; the boy called Stanley Dad, and I was delighted.
After the marriage, Stanley suggested we adopt Leo.
Ive always wanted two boys, he admitted, his eyes softening.
I patted his shoulder sympathetically. I knew his exwife had found a wealthy lover and barred him from seeing his son, which pained him.
Thus, three months after we first met, we truly became a family.
The only secret I kept from Stanley was my true financial state. The sawmill was modest, and its modest profit was split among three partners, but I saved every penny for Leos education, a future home, and his needs alone. I had no reason to reveal this, a lesson James had taught me before he retired to the seaside.
If Stanley suspected anything, he never let it show.
But this idyll lasted less than a year. Over time Stanley grew less caring, returning home angry and irritable.
Dont mind it, just the bosses, he would say at first.
Cant you transfer to another site? Youre an excellent electrician, I asked anxiously.
Will sort it out.
Soon he stopped offering excuses, either falling silent or snapping at me. He never touched Leo, yet his irritation with the boy was obvious.
One day we were strolling in the park with LeoStanley was supposed to finish work and join us for icecreamwhen a sharp, mocking female voice cut through the air.
Stupid youre adopting him, the boy will suffer.
I turned to see a striking brunette in a bright orange coat perched on a bench beside me.
Do we know each other? I asked, startled.
No, but that can be fixed, she replied with a sly smile. Im Zora, Stanleys exwife. Temporarily ex
I stared at her, trying to process the scene while Leo played further away.
Why are you looking at me like that? Zora teased. Stanley just wanted to prove hes a decent man, thats all.
What are you saying? I asked, confused.
The plain truth, dear, the exwife answered.
Zora was about five years older than me, looking down with a patronising air.
I dont understand I admitted, lost.
Oh, thats Stanleyhell explain everything, Zora said, nodding away.
Sure enough, Stanley approached, eyes darting between the two women.
Stanley, tell the girl whats what, Zora said slowly, patting his head as she rose from the bench. Were waiting for you! she called over her shoulder.
Now it was Stanley who asked, Why are you staring at me? He seemed stunned by the recent chaos.
I dont know what Zora told you, but yes, I married you to spite her, he muttered, swallowing.
He paused, then vented, Shes driving me mad! Who needs you? she says. She thinks Im only tolerating her, and now shes eyeing that rich bloke Max. I couldnt take itfiled for divorce.
Why adopt Leo? I managed to ask.
To keep everything tidy. New wife, new son, everythings neat for me, he replied. I saw you at the clinic and thought youd be perfect
A wifetobe? I sneered.
He fell silent.
What now? I asked, though the answer was already clear.
I dont know, he muttered. I think Im getting used to you.
He realised, too late, that I was home alone, with no sign of his things or his presence. I sighed heavily and dialed James Whitaker once more. I needed a solicitor again.
