She gathered her belongings and walked out on amicable terms, the note from Lauras wife read yesterday.
Your business doesnt concern me, Victor. Its crystal clear now. Pack up your bits and bounce in any directionwhether to the ex or to the current, she snapped.
What do you mean, bounce? And what about Kevin?
Kevin crossed your mind? Funny You should have thought of him earlier, when you were darting around instead of actually working or helping with the child. Now youre only remembering Kevin at the last minute.
Hey, Lila, why so glum? shouted a voice as her brother Liam swung open the front door of the family house.
Simon had arrived for his twoday break just two days ago and, judging by the shrieks echoing from the back rooms, had already turned the place upside downin a good way.
Hello, Aunt Lila! chirped Simons daughter, Olivia, sprinting into the hallway to see whod turned up.
The cries kept going.
Hey, Olivia dear. Whos that yelling upstairs? asked Lila, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
Thats Paul and Mike fighting over toys. Little rascals, the fiveyearold sighed dramatically, crossing her arms. Did you bring anything tasty?
I did, but Grandma will hand it over later. First soup, then sweetsremember the rule.
Right, right, youll forget us, Olivia pouted and trudged back to her room.
The shouting finally died down, meaning the twins had settled on who would play with what without crushing each other.
Whats up with you? Simon, whod been watching the exchange in silence, asked again.
Im not sure, Lila sighed, setting her handbag on the table and slipping off her shoes. I think Victors cheating on me. He says Im paranoid and need a doctor. But
Come to the kitchen, tell me everything, Simon urged.
Lila nodded, stripped down to her slippers, and padded into the cosy little kitchen. Simon flicked on the kettle while his younger sister perched at the table, ready to listen.
There wasnt much to tell. Shed met Victor five years ago.
His previous marriage hadnt produced any children, and after he split with his ex, Vanessa, theyd gone friendswithbenefits, which only made Lilas nerves more frayed.
Hes constantly texting her at night, you know? I lie there, the baby asleep next door, and hes chatting away. Lila vented. Whenever Im about to leave, he darts off to say hi. And at work hes always staying late. I complain Im doing it solo with the child and could use an extra pair of hands, and he just mumble about his reports. Lately hes started nagging me, Whats hard for you? The kids at nursery all day, youre just at home.
Hold uphows that home when you both work, even if its remote? Simon retorted.
She thinks remote work means sitting on the couch, getting paid for doing nothing. No one cares that shes pulling eighthour days without the commute. Lila huffed.
And have you tried snooping on his phone? See who hes writing toex or anyone else?
Youre insane! Lila gasped. Thats just not right, and besides what if Ive imagined it all? How would that look?
Honestly, what does a chat with an ex look like when theres nothing there? a voice chimed from behind. It was Julia, Simons wife, whod overheard most of Lilas complaints and now placed a phone on the table, screen glowing with an open conversation.
Whats that? Lila asked.
Its a chat with Victors brother, Vlad. Have a look. Julia said.
Nothing to read here. In a month there are three messages about when hell pick up Olivia, what hell buy her, and when hell bring her back. Lila rolled her eyes.
Wrong. Theres also a Mothers Day card tucked in there and my birthday greeting to him. Notice we broke up on decent terms. We share a daughter, and hes actively coparenting, not just paying child support. If Id been messaging Vlad instead of you before bed, Id have already got divorce papers instead of being told Im paranoid.
Exactlyif youd actually tracked his moves, youd know whether theres anything. Julia continued. What if there isnt? How would you look? Could it wreck our marriage and make me the paranoid one?
Oh dear, shes at it again, Simon muttered, pressing his palm to his cheek.
I have an idea, Julia said after a pause. Victor keeps using work as an excuse. Why not approach his boss and ask how long this will go on? Not as an accusation, but as a pityfilled plea: My husbands vanished into overtime, Ive got a kid to look after, a dentist appointment I cant get, and hes always in the office. See how he reacts. If his job really is that demanding, maybe theyll let him leave a bit earlier. If not, a different picture emerges.
The suggestion seemed sensible, and Laura decided to give it a try. She knew Victors boss, Mr. Whitaker, facetoface in town and had often seen him at the local pub.
She walked up to him without much trouble. He greeted her, and she replied with a quick, welltimed line that steered the chat exactly where she wanted.
Just another day, Mr. Whitaker. Victors staying late at work, so Im stuck at home, juggling the baby and the endless todo list. If the workloads really that heavy, perhaps you could let him off a bit earlier now and then?
His eyebrows shot up. Whos keeping him late? he asked, genuinely surprised.
Its Victor, of course. Hes already asking for early leave at four, saying he needs to help his wife, pick the kid up from nursery, and even pop into the doctors. Im not against his dedication, but it feels like a cover. Lila pressed.
Give him a ring, will you? Whitaker said. Ask when hell be home.
Lila called Victor, adopting a perfectly ordinary tone. Hey love, what time are you coming back tonight?
Maybe Ill get off early and take Kevin to the park while you tidy up, he replied.
Lila, Im swamped with the new project. Sevas piled on so many tasks I feel like a wolf on a treadmill, Victor grumbled. Ive tried being reasonablewife, kid, but its all your problem to him. He even threatened to quit if I dont keep catering to his needs.
Threatened to quit? Sevahis nicknamesnorted. What, you dont care about my worries? Fine, Ill sort something out tomorrow
Lila promised, Ill think of something. They hung up. Victor didnt return that night, only appearing the next morning.
Listen, he began, Ive got a situation
I dont care about your situation, Vic. Its clear now. Pack your stuff and scram in any directionex or current.
What about scram? And Kevin?
You remembered Kevin? Great You shouldve thought of him earlier when you were galloping around instead of working or helping with the child, not now when youre recalling Kevin.
But I
Collected my things and left on good terms, but Laura finished, tapping the send button.
After lunch her motherinlaw callednot to mediate the husbands love triangle, but to announce that Vanessa, the woman Victor once friendzoned, was expecting a baby. The very pregnancy that had once torn their marriage apart.
And you know what? Im thrilled it turned out that way. I always liked Val, and you and your illbehaved son Laura cut the call short, hanging up.
In that moment she truly didnt care about Victor, his exturnedpossiblewife, or any of their drama. Only she and her son mattered; everyone else was just a page to be turned and forgotten, as if theyd never existed.
Those pages, however, refused to stay closed, resurfacing three years later when Kevin finally started school.
