Andrew, hand me the car keys, please. I need to get Mum to the clinic straight away, Imogen reached for her husband, who was lounging on the settee. Ill be back in two hours tops, Ill bring her back safe and sound.
Andrew didnt even glance up from his phone.
No.
What do you mean no? Imogens hand fell. Its your day off, youre not going anywhere. Mums blood pressure is spiking.
I said no, I mean no, Andrew finally peeled his eyes away and stared at his wife. A woman behind the wheel is always a recipe for disaster. Youll clip someone, ram into a post, or something else entirely.
Imogen stepped closer to the sofa, fists clenched.
Andrew, what are you saying?!
Whats wrong with my answer? Im still paying off a threeyear loan on that car. I wont gamble my assets, he snapped back at his phone, signalling the conversation was over.
Imogen watched the crown of his head, then turned, slammed the front door shut with a force that rattled the hinges, and slipped into the hallway. She pulled out her phone and hailed a cab. The roundtrip cost her fifteen pounds. Mum kept apologising for the inconvenience the whole way, while Imogen pressed her lips together, thinking how easy it would have been if Andrew had simply helped. If hed wanted to.
When she got back, Andrew was waiting in the hall, a guilty look etched on his face.
Love, Im sorry. I know I was wrong. I didnt think about how badly Mum needed help, he tried to pull her into an embrace, but she stepped back.
Leave me alone.
Come on, Imdont be angry. Im apologising! I get that I was out of line.
Imogen walked past him toward the kitchen, saying nothing. Andrew trailed behind, desperate to make peace.
How about a cup of tea? Or a glass of wine? We could talk calmly?
Imogen switched on the kettle and began scrubbing the dishes with a fury that made the plates almost disappear under the suds. Andrew lingered for a few more minutes, then retreated to the bedroom.
Two months drifted by in a strained silence. Imogen answered Andrew in monosyllables, only when absolutely necessary. He tried several times to broach reconciliation, but each attempt crashed into a wall of cold indifference.
On a Saturday morning, Imogen stood at the kitchen table, chopping vegetables for soup. Outside, rain pattered against the windows, and the flat held a quiet, almost cosy atmosphere. She turned on some soft music and let the routine soothe the ache of a long workweek.
A sudden knock at the door made her jump. She dried her hands on a towel and went to answer, puzzled at who could be calling at such an hour.
Margaret? Imogen took a step back as the furious face of her motherinlaw appeared in the doorway, cheeks flushed with outrage.
Youve lost your conscience! Margaret stormed in. All you think about is how to drag my son into debt! Do you even care how hell survive?
Imogen blinked, trying to process the onslaught.
Margaret, what are you talking about? Whats happened?
Whats happened? Margaret turned her full body toward Imogen, eyes blazing with righteous fury. You smashed Andrews car! Now my son will be paying a threeyear loan for a heap of scrap metal!
Imogen felt the floor tilt beneath her.
Margaret, I never got behind Andrews wheel. Never! He refused me the keys when I asked.
Liar! Margaret hissed. He told me everything! How you begged for his car and then smashed it to pieces!
Footsteps echoed from the hallway and Andrew appeared. Margaret lunged at him.
She wont even admit it! Andrew, darling, how are you going to live now? Three years paying for a wrecked car! No car, no cash!
Imogen stared at her husband, waiting for an explanation. Andrew only lowered his head and gave a barely perceptible nod.
Andrew? Imogens voice cracked. Tell Mum the truth. Tell her I never took your car.
Andrew was silent, staring at the socks on his slippers.
When exactly did I supposedly smash his car? Imogen turned to Margaret, her tone laced with steel. Give me the exact date.
Margaret triumphantly fished out her phone.
Tuesday, two oclock! I have the whole chat with Andrew saved! she thrust the device under Imogens nose.
Imogen replayed the Tuesday in her mind: a work conference
Tuesday? she scoffed, and the sound silenced Margaret. I was at an offsite conference all day, from seven in the morning until nine at night.
Margarets face faltered.
But Andrew said
Andrew lied, Imogen stepped toward her husband. Right, love? Now tell us the truth. Who actually wrecked your precious car?
Andrew lifted his head, his cheeks flushing a deep crimson.
Mum, Im sorry. I was the one who smashed the car, his voice trembled. I didnt want you to think I was a useless driver, so I tried to shift the blame onto Imogen
You blamed an innocent woman! Imogens fury rose like a tide. And you turned Mum against me too!
Margaret sank into a chair, her face paling.
Andrew, how could you? Why lie? Why?
Mum, you know Ive never been lucky behind the wheel. Remember when I was eighteen and scratched Dads car? You didnt speak to me for a week, Andrew reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
So you thought itd be easier to pin it on Imogen? Margaret rose slowly. Youre a grown man! How can you shift responsibility onto a woman?
Imogen stood, arms crossed, watching the family drama unfold. Her anger slowly morphed into weary disappointment.
You know what, Andrew? When you refused to let me use the car to get my mum to the doctor, I thought you were just selfish. Turns out youre something worse. Youre a coward.
Imogen, please, dont Andrew tried to close the distance.
Stop! she raised her hand. No. You were ready to wreck our marriage just to avoid owning up to Mum.
I wanted to be honest, I really did! I just didnt know how to start
You didnt know how? Imogen laughed, but there was no humor in it. Sorry, Imogen is not how honest conversations begin.
Margaret, suddenly softer, addressed her son:
Andrew, do you realise Id judged Imogen harshly? I thought she was selfish and irresponsible, and now I see she had nothing to do with this!
Mum, Ill change, Ill
Change? Imogen walked to the window, watching the grey rainsoaked streets. How will you fix what I now know about you? In a crisis youd rather blame me than take responsibility?
A heavy silence settled over the flat.
Imogen, Andrew called quietly, what now?
She didnt turn.
I dont know, Andrew. I thought Id married a man I could rely on. Turns out youd throw me under the bus at the first chance.
Thats not true! I love you!
Love? Imogen finally faced him. A person who loves you doesnt act like this. Love doesnt make you make the other suffer for your peace of mind.
Margaret rose from her chair and approached Imogen.
Imogen, Im sorry. Im sorry I believed the lies, for shouting at you. I was wrong.
Margaret, you acted like any mother wouldprotecting her child. I bear no grudge against you, Imogen said, a trace of sympathy flickering in her eyes. But against Andrew? she added quietly. There are serious grievances.
Andrew lunged forward, pleading.
Imogen, tell me what to do. Ill do anything for your forgiveness!
Now youll do anything, she stepped away from his reach. But youve already lied once, shifted blame onto me. That shows who you really are, Andrew.
Ill change!
People dont change in a day. Especially not those capable of such deceit.
She slipped back into the kitchen, leaving Andrew and Margaret alone with their thoughts. From the hallway came muffled voices; Margaret scolded her son for his behaviour.
Imogen paced, weighing her options. How could she move forward with a husband like this?
It was impossible. No matter how hard she tried, the memory wouldnt fade.
She opened the browser on her phone and typed: How to get a divorce quickly? The decision was made.
