The wife had packed her bags and disappeared without a trace.
Stop pretending youre some sort of saint. Itll all sort itself out. Womenthey blow up, then calm down. The important thing is, weve got a son; the family line continues.
Dina didnt respond.
George, Dina leaned in and dropped her voice to a whisper, last week you said youd sorted out Katies pregnancy. What did you mean?
George put down his fork and leaned back.
I meant what I said. She strung me along for five years, you know. Not ready, career, always later, later. Well, when is later, Dina? Im thirty-two. I wanted an heir; a proper family. So I swapped out her pills.
Dina stared, stunned.
Did you tell her? When?
The day she left, George muttered. Started yelling at me, so I told her. Told her outright it was what she wanted all along, and I just gave her a nudge. Thought shed come round, realise she had no other choice. But she well, she lost it. Grabbed her bag and was gone.
***
On the kitchen table, next to a messy heap of unwashed baby bottles, lay Georges forgotten hairbrush.
Dina glowered at it, feeling irritation brewing inside her. Why must it always be chaos?
The baby in the next room finally stopped crying, but the hush brought no comfort. In an hourmaybe twoit would all start over again.
Dina pulled her dressing gown tighter and set the kettle going. Just a month ago, theyd brought Katie, her sister-in-law, home from hospital. George had been glowing, bustling about with enormous bouquets for the nurses. But Katie
Katie had looked as if she were being led to her execution, not her own home.
Dina had chalked it up to exhaustion and hormones. First baby and all thatwho wouldnt be moody? Should have seen it coming, though.
The front door slammedher brother was home from work. He stalked into the kitchen, loosening his tie, and dived straight for the fridge.
Anything to eat? he grunted, not sparing a glance for his sister.
Leftover pasta in the pot. I boiled some sausages too.
George, the babys just gone down. Please keep it down?
George snorted, pulling out a plate.
Im knackered, Dina. On my feet all day, clients sucking the life out of me.
Hows the little one? he muttered, mouth full.
That little one is your son, Dina said, setting her mug down a bit harder than intended. His name is Arthur.
Hes been screaming for hoursbad stomach.
Youll cope, George shrugged, utterly indifferent, and slumped at the table. Youre a womanthis stuffs in your blood. Mum managed on her own with us when Dad was off on the rigs.
Dina bit her lip so hard she could taste iron. She wanted nothing more than to fling that plate at his head.
She was only here for now, waiting to sort out the rent on her own flat. In two short weeks, shed become the free nanny, cook, and housemaid.
And George carried on as if none of it matteredlike his wife hadnt just packed up and bolted off to God-knows-where.
Has Katie called? Dina asked as her brother wolfed down his dinner.
He froze, fork halfway to his mouth. For a second, his face darkened.
Wont pick up. Sends me to voicemail. The cheek Leaves her baby behindwhat sort of woman does that? All because I swapped her pills. So shed get pregnant faster.
Youre despicable, George, Dina said quietly.
Excuse me? His eyes flashed wide. I did what I had to for our family! I work, I bring in the money! Shes the one who left the childwhos really to blame here?
You robbed her of her choice, Dina stood abruptly. You lied to someone youre meant to love. How did you expect her to react? Cheers, darling, thanks for wrecking my life?
He waved a hand. Dont start. Shell get over it. Where would she go? Babys here, her stuffs here. When the money runs out, shell crawl back. Meanwhile youll help, right? Ive got end-of-month chaos at work.
Dina said nothing. She walked out and headed for the nursery.
Arthur lay sleeping, tiny fists clenched. Dina looked at him, her heart splitting in two.
On one side, this helpless little bundleblameless. On the other, Katie, trapped and betrayed.
She pitied them both.
She pulled out her phone, opened her messages, and saw Katie had been online three minutes ago. Dina typed, deleted, and started again for ages.
Katie, its Dina. Im not asking you to come back to him. I just need to know youre okay. And Im struggling, alone here. Can we talk? No shouting.
The reply came ten minutes later.
Im at a hotel. Off on a work trip to Manchester for three weeks, planned well before well, a while ago. When Im back, Im filing for divorce. Im not abandoning Arthur, Dina. But I cant be there right now. I cant even look at himI see George in his face.
Dina sighed.
I understand. Honestly. George told me everything.
And? Is he pleased with himself?
Seems so. Hes convinced youll come back.
Let him dream. Dina, if it gets too much, just say. Ill find a way to get a nanny, send money. But Ill never go back to him.
Dina put her phone down and exhaled. She had to find work, pay off debts, build her life again.
But she couldnt leave Arthur with George, who didn’t even know how to change a nappy.
***
The next three days blurred into a waking nightmare.
George came home late, ate, and collapsed into bed.
Every request to help met with, Im tired, or You know better how to settle him.
One night, after Arthurs cries reached a breaking point, Dina finally snapped.
She stormed into her brothers room and flicked on the light.
Up. Now, she said in a voice like ice.
George groaned, hiding under the pillow.
Go away, Dina. Ive got to be up at six.
I dont care. Go feed your son. Hes hungry, and my hands are shaking with exhaustion.
Youve lost it, George snapped, sitting up, hair wild. Thats why youre here! Free board, all bills paid!
Oh, is that it? Dinas temper broke. Im staff, am I?
Call it what you like. Katiell be back soonyoull get your rest. Til then, get on with it.
Dina walked out, speechless with rage.
She stayed up the rest of the night on the kitchen floor, rocking the cradle with her foot, plotting how to teach George a lesson. He had completely lost the plot.
That morning, as soon as George left, Dina messaged Katie.
We need to meet. Today. While hes out. Please.
Katie agreed.
They met in a tiny park near the house.
Katie looked shatteredwhite as a ghost, dark circles, thin and tired.
She walked up to the pram, peering at her son for a long time. Her hands trembled.
Hes grown, she said softly. Changed so much in two weeks.
He wont even know you, Dina said gently.
I know, Katie covered her face. Dina, Im not a monster. I do love him, somewhere deep inside, I feel it. But when I imagine living with George, sharing a bed with someone who betrayed me like that I cant breathe.
What if it doesnt have to be with George? Dina asked.
Katie looked up, wary. What do you mean?
Hes sure youll never leave. He thinks you and the baby belong to him. Dina paused. Lets be honesthes not a father, hes a project manager for the perfect family. He doesnt get up at night, doesnt know how many scoops go into a bottle. He only wanted an heir, not the work of raising one.
Sowhat are you suggesting?
You go away on your work trip, Dina said steadily. Get your strength back.
Ill stay here for three more weeks, keep things steady. In that time, we prepare.
Prepare for what? Katie asked.
A divorce. Custody arrangements. You dont have to go back to him. You can find a place. Ill move in and help with Arthur while you work. Ive got some freelance gigs lined upmy finances will recover soon. We can manage, together. Without him.
Katie stared in disbelief.
Youd go against your brother?
Hes family, but what he did was vile. I wont help him lie to you. He thinks Im trapped here with nowhere to go. Hes wrong.
Katie was quiet for a long stretch, watching a speck of sun dart along the pram handle.
But what if he fights? He wont just hand Arthur overhell make a huge scene.
He will, Dina nodded. But weve got an ace. He admitted to tampering with your pills. If that comes out in court, with witnesses Ill back your story. And Ill tell the judge about his help during your leave. George doesnt really want a childhe just wants control. The minute he sees Arthur takes real work, hell give up. Itll be easier for him to play abandoned father to his mates than do any parenting.
For the first time in ages, Katie smiled, faint but real.
Youve grown up, Dina.
I had to, Dina said with a sigh. So, do we agree?
We do. Thank you.
Three weeks flew by.
George grew more irritable, noticing that Dina no longer fell over herself to serve him a plate the minute he walked through the door.
Whens Katie back? he asked gruffly one evening, dropping his briefcase onto the sofa.
Tomorrow, Dina replied, holding Arthur close.
Finally. Maybe Ill get a decent restaurant mealsick of your pasta. Need to buy her something nice so she wont complain. A ring or earringswomen love that.
Dina looked at him with barely concealed disgust.
You really think a ring fixes everything?
He strode over, tried to pat her shoulder; she dodged.
Stop acting holier-than-thou. Women get over these thingstheyll scream, then get on with it. Main thing is, we have a son; the line continues.
Dina stayed silent.
***
The next morning, while George was at work, Katie arrived. She didnt enter the flat, waiting below in her car. Dina had packed up all of Arthurs things, her suitcase, and the essentials.
It took three trips to carry everything down. Arthur slept peacefully in his car seat.
For the last time, Dina went back up to leave the key.
She placed it on the kitchen table, exactly where Georges hairbrush had been three weeks earlier. Next to it, she left a note.
George, were gone. Dont try to find Katie. Youll hear from her solicitor. Arthur is with her. So am I.
You wanted a family, but you forgot its built on trustnot on manipulation.
Theres pasta in the fridge. Youll have to manage the rest on your own.
They were gone.
Katie rented a small but cosy place across town. The early days were tough: Arthur was unsettled, Katie kept bursting into tears, and Dinas phone buzzed nonstop with angry calls and texts from George.
He raged, threatened, cursed, promised to take them to court, said hed leave them penniless.
Dina listened in silence.
But they stood firm.
In the end, George just faded out. The divorce was settled in court; George didnt ask for custody.
Dina had been righthe didnt want the hassle. He paid maintenance, content to wash his hands of the business. He didnt even push for visits with his son.
And finally, there was peace.
