Emma, you cant just boot a child out of the house! Shes tiny, in a city that isnt even hers. Do you realise what could happen to her? Andrew shouted, his voice shaking with outrage. Youre her mother, after all! Imagine if someone did the same to Harry!
Harry doesnt behave like that, Olivia retorted. She may be fourteen, but shes got a mouth the size of a megaphone. If she has the nerve to sashay past a grownup aunt, shell get to the train station on her own, too.
Olivia knew she might be overreacting. Emma didnt have a ticket for her dads city, and she didnt know anyone there. Olivia was essentially sending the girl off into the void. But shed had enough. She could no longer tolerate that brat in a skirt.
At one point Andrew had seemed like a breath of fresh air to Olivia. Her first marriage hadnt been a disaster, but there was no love in it. Shed married Simon for practical reasons. He was the heir to a welloff family, lived in a big house, never worried about a thing, and took good care of Olivia.
She figured a man like that would be perfect for starting a family the kids would never want for anything. Her own feelings were the last thing on her mind. No spark, no romance, so whats the point? Life isnt a fairytale; not everyone falls madly in love. At least he was a decent bloke who wouldnt hurt her.
She wasnt entirely wrong: their only son, Harry, truly never lacked anything. But when he grew up and became more independent, his parents suddenly realised they were almost strangers to each other. They had no common interests, nothing to talk about. Olivia even started taking holidays on her own, separate from Simon. Simons infatuation had faded, and there were no feelings left.
At first they tried to live side by side as good friends. That attempt crashed spectacularly. Olivia hated everything about Simon: the way he left puddles in the bathroom after a shower, his snoring, his eating, even the way he breathed. Simon, on his part, started flirting with younger women, calling it a tablet for boredom.
In the end they divorced. Simon left one of the flats to his exwife and son. At first Olivia got used to living alone, in a new way, and then she started craving love. Just once, in her life.
She signed up to an online dating site, but didnt stay long. The men she met were a motley lot. Some were still figuring themselves out at forty and unemployed, others insulted their exes. Even the decentlooking ones vanished after the first date. Olivia didnt understand why until a new acquaintance lifted the veil.
The next date was dreadful. After an hour the man started getting handsy and tried to kiss her, even after she said outright it was too fast. He then kept inviting her over. She caught on, excused herself, and said she had to pick up her son from school.
That was the end of it. Later that evening, a message pinged in Olivias inbox:
Couldnt you have said everything at the start? Wasted my time. Divorced women with baggage dont interest me.
She remembered hearing that line in the café. Likely it wasnt about the son at all, but the label divorced woman killed any desire she had to keep looking. To many men its a red flag, even if the kid is fifteen and, in summer, earns more than some potential suitors.
Olivia was about to give up on her dream when, out of the blue, something pleasant happened.
She met Andrew at a friends birthday Mollys. He was charming, poured her champagne, served salads, smiled whenever Olivia joked, and at the end asked for her number.
Molly warned her:
Olivia, be careful. He comes with an exwife and a daughter.
Olivia wasnt rattled.
So what? Im not a delicate flower either, she replied. Life throws all sorts of stuff at you.
Later Andrew gently explained he couldnt make it work with his ex, but Olivia got the picture: his ex constantly stirred up drama. That surprised her the man seemed sweet, calm, gentle. What could possibly cause conflict?
She soon found out, and it wasnt pretty.
Love, Ill be a bit late today. Need to swing by Vickys. She asked me to collect a bike for Emma, Andrew warned.
It wasnt the first time; in the past week hed been late three times. Vicky couldnt even change a lightbulb without his help. At first Olivia tried to be understanding: Vicky had only recently divorced and was still adjusting, much like Olivia once had. But the constant interruptions began to grate.
You know how I feel about this. Cant you just say no? It looks like theres something going on between you two.
Olivia, pray! I just cant abandon Emma. Families fall apart, children are left behind, you know how it is
I get it. I dont mind you helping, but not endless trips. Lets send Vicky money for a tradesperson. Your presence isnt mandatory.
Well, Olivia
No Olivia. Either you go home, or you stay with Vicky forever.
After a bit of a tussle, Olivia managed to get her way. Andrew stopped dropping by his exwifes house, but he still wanted to see his daughter, so Emma started staying over on weekends. Each visit turned into a stamina test for Olivia.
On the first night Emma demanded that her dad sleep in her room. Always. Its scary being alone, she claimed. Then she raided Olivias perfume shelf, doused herself in an expensive fragrance. The third time she threw a tantrum over food.
Im not eating this, Emma said, pushing her plate away. Its not tasty. Mums cooking is better.
Fine, stay hungry, Olivia snapped, fed up with performing a circus for a child. Or go back to Mum.
Are you kicking me out? Ill tell Mum you didnt feed me! Emma crossed her arms, pouting.
Girls Andrew began, frowning. Lets not argue. Ill just order a pizza.
After every Emma visit, the house erupted in arguments. She acted as if Olivia meant nothing to her, running the place like she owned it. The woman realised the girl just wanted her dad to spend more time with her, or perhaps to return to her mother. She was slowly, methodically, rebuilding her bond with her father.
Well, youll have to run off to another city now, a friend said one day. I told you so.
I never imagined divorced women would come with a male trailer, Olivia sighed.
She took her friends advice seriously. Why not move? By then Harry was living on his own in another town. Nothing held her back.
They eventually relocated to a cottage on the outskirts of a seaside town in Cornwall. For two blissful years everything was perfect: peace, quiet, and a chance to enjoy married life. Then
Olivia, please dont be angry Andrew began timidly. Vicky called. She wants Emma for the summer holidays, at least a month. Shes got health issues, the doctor said she needs a beach break, and the trips you know, pricey. Vickys leave is actually in winter.
Olivia stared at him like a bull in a china shop.
No! Not Emma! she blurted.
Love I spoke to her. She understood and promised to behave.
At first Olivia resisted, but finally gave in. After all, Emma was the daughter of the man she loved. He hadnt seen her in ages. Maybe she had truly changed?
She hadnt.
The first week Emma behaved quietly, mostly in her room or out walking with her dad. Then the chaos began.
Emma, could you not wear outdoor shoes inside? Thats not our custom.
Oops, forgot to take them off, she said with a sweet grin. Its still dirty anyway.
Emma started bringing guests over without asking, taking food Olivia had asked her not to touch, blasting videos at full volume at night. When asked to keep the noise down she claimed shed left her headphones at home, but if new ones were bought shed consider it. She also complained to Vicky, who then called Olivia in a flurry of arguments.
Olivias patience finally snapped when Emma accidentally shattered a cup the very one Harry had given her when he earned his first paycheck. It felt like a personal affront.
Oh, what a fuss, as if youve run out of cups, Emma shrugged.
That evening Olivia told Andrew she could no longer tolerate the little terror on her turf.
Andrew defended his daughter.
Olivia, she might be in the wrong, but shes still a child. Youre an adult. You could try to meet halfway at least once a year, he said. Otherwise it looks like you dont care about my daughter at all.
Olivia spent that night in the guest bedroom, refusing to share a bed with Andrew. By morning she discovered both husband and daughter had vanished.
It would have been fine, except Andrew was missing for three whole days. Hed apparently taken Emma on a road trip. He didnt answer calls or texts. Olivia could only guess what was happening behind the scenes.
He finally resurfaced on the fourth day.
Well, Im heading home. See you tomorrow, six oclock, Andrew said matteroffactly.
Olivia could have pretended everything was alright, just as he used to pop over to his ex every other day. But she was tired of the endless battle, especially since Andrew clearly wasnt on her side.
Andrew, dont take offence, but maybe you should go back to Vicky. Some couples are happy together, others are bored apart. It sounds like thats you, Olivia replied.
Olivia, come on. Its fine. I just dropped Emma off.
It would be great if she never came over, or if you finally stood up to her. You never did that in all these years. Im fed up fighting in my own house and with you.
Andrew tried to persuade her, but Olivia stayed firm. She never found out whether he was cheating or simply under Vickys thumb. She deliberately stopped stalking his social media.
Yes, once upon a time Olivia wanted love. But what do you do when the man next to you loves himself, his comfort, and his halfmeasures more than you? Olivia decided to start with loving herself. And keeping tabs on exes just didnt fit that plan.
