Wife and Father
I only ever pretended to want to meet Toms parents. What did I really need them for, honestly? It wasnt as if Id be living with them, and his fatherwho was well-off from what Tom told mewould likely bring nothing but trouble and more questions.
But once youve decided to go through with a wedding, you have to see it through to the end.
Id dressed up for the visit, nothing flashy, just enough to be seen as the sweet girl next door.
Meeting the parents is always a test, full of subtle threats and traps, but shaking hands with clever ones is a real trial by fire.
Tom tried to reassure me: Dont worry, Emma, really. Dads a bit dour, but hes reasonable. Mum and Dad wont say anything dreadful. Theyll like you, honestly. Dads a bit odd, but Mum is just wonderful. He said this, trying to sound as easy as possible while standing in front of their house.
I just smiled and brushed a loose strand of hair from my shoulder. Sothe fathers a moody one, mother the heart of every gathering. What a mix. I smirked to myself.
Nothing about the house surprised me. Id been in wealthier homes before.
We were greeted right away.
I wasnt nervous. Why should I be? People are people. Margaret, as Tom had told me before, has been a housewife for decades, rarely worked, sometimes goes away with her friends on little holiday tours, but thats about it. His father, Henry, is apparently a serious, quiet sort of man. Though, the name struck a familiar chord
They greeted us
And instantly I froze, still on the doorstep. This was it. The end. The future mother-in-law was a stranger, but the father-in-law I recognised in half a heartbeat. Wed met years agonot often, but enough, both of us gaining something at the time. In bars, hotels, swanky restaurants. Of course, neither Margaret nor Tom knew anything of this.
Brilliant.
Henry recognised me, too. There was a flash of something in his eyessurprise, perhaps a twist of something darker, like schemingbut he stayed silent.
Oblivious, Tom beamed as he introduced me. Mum, Dadthis is Emma. My fiancée. Id have brought her round sooner, but shes so shy.
Oh, lovely.
Henry offered me his hand.
His handshake was firm, even a touch too hard.
Pleased to meet you, Emma, he said, with just a hint ofsomething. Was it anger? A warning? I couldnt tell.
I was thinking fast, already waiting for Henry to expose me for who I was.
Lovely to meet you, too, Mr. Jenkins, I replied, masking any hint of nerves. I squeezed his hand back, feeling my adrenaline surge. What next?
But nothing happened.
With a forced smile, Henry pulled out a chair for me at the table.
Perhaps planning to humiliate me later on…
But no dramatic scenes followed.
Then it dawned on mehe wouldnt say a word. After all, exposing me would mean exposing himself to Margaret.
When I relaxed, the evening turned almost normal. Margaret told stories from Toms childhood. Henry listened to me, asking me about my work. Oh, he knew plenty about me. But his wry remarks barely touched me. He even made a couple of jokes, and, to my surprise, I laughed. Though the jokes were edged with private meaning, clear only to us.
Once, holding my gaze, he quipped, You know, Emma, you remind me of an oldcolleague of mine. Sharp as anything, and could get on with absolutely anyone.
I didnt flinch.
Talents come in all shapes, Mr. Jenkins.
Tom, so lost in love, gazed at me like I was perfect, not noticing a thing. He loved me, truly. That was the most important part. The hardest part. For him.
Later, as conversation turned to travel, Henry remarked, Personally, I prefer somewhere quiet. No fuss, just a chance to sit and think, especially with a good book. What about you, Emma?
He was testing me.
I prefer places busy with peoplelively, noisy, fun, I answered smoothly, Though sometimes, too many ears can be dangerous.
For a moment, Margaret looked troubled, but brushed it off.
Henry knew I didnt crave peace and quiet, and he knew exactly why.
As evening ended, Henry hugged Tom.
Take care of her, son. Shesspecial.
It was both a compliment and an insult, though no one but me caught it.
I actually felt the air grow colder. Special. That was the word he chose.
***
That night, I couldnt sleep.
I lay there, thinking through the meeting, thinking how to work with these new, awkward circumstances. It didnt look good. I guessed Henry was also awakeneither of us sleeping, both mulling over what had happened and what might come.
I slipped out of bed, pulled on an old jumper over my pyjamas, and crept downstairs. I made deliberate noise on the steps, just enough for anyone awake to hear, and stepped out to the veranda. If Henry was awake, hed find me.
I didnt wait long.
Cant sleep? he said from behind me.
Seems sleep wont come tonight, I replied.
A cool breeze stirred, carrying the familiar scent of his aftershave.
He looked me over in silence.
What do you want from my son, Emma? The friendly mask was gone. I know what youre capable of. I know how many men like me youve tangled with. I know all you ever cared for was money. You never hid that. Youd name your price, one way or another. Why Tom?
If he didnt want to reminisce, I wasnt going to be sweet.
I love him, Mr. Jenkins, I said with syrupy sweetness. Why shouldnt I?
He wasnt impressed.
Love? You? Dont make me laugh. I know exactly who you are, Emma. And Ill tell Tom everything. About what you did, who you really are. Do you think hell marry you then?
I stepped closer, close enough to almost touch him.
Go on, tell him, Henry, I drawled, deliberately slow. Then your wife will know our little secret, too.
Thats
Thats not blackmail. Thats fair trade. Tell them how we met, what we did… Ill fill in the rest. You cant keep out your part.
Thats not the same
Oh? Will you say the same to Margaret?
He froze. Trying to frighten me hadnt worked. He knew nowI had him trapped. We were in this together.
What will you tell her, then?
Not just her. Everyone. Tom will know what kind of family man you are, how you spent your late hours. Ill tell it all; Ive nothing to lose. Want to save your son from me? Go ahead, at your own cost.
A tough choice.
Telling his son not to marry me might as well be signing his own divorce papersand saying goodbye to his wealth. Margaret wouldnt walk away empty-handed, and Tom would never forgive him.
He knew I wasnt bluffing.
All right, he said eventually, I wont say a word. And neither will you. Well forget any of this happened.
That was why I wasnt frightened anymore. Hed lose far more than I would.
As you wish, Mr. Jenkins.
The next morning, Tom and I left his parents house. As Henry scowled at me from the door, I said my goodbyes to Margaret, whod already started calling me daughter. Henrys eye twitched.
He was torn between warning Tom of what he thought was my scheming and not risking his own secrets. Losing Margaret meant losing not just a wife but a hefty chunk of his estate. No way shed leave empty-handed. Tom likely wouldnt forgive him either
On another visit, Tom and I stayed for a fortnight.
Holiday, as they say, in full swing.
Henry did his best to avoid me, always finding some errand. But once, home alone, curiosity won out. He rifled through my handbagmakeup, a planner, a little notebook. And then he spotted something blue and white: a pregnancy test. Two solid lines.
I thought disaster was Tom marrying No, this is real disaster! he muttered, putting it back, barely shutting the bag before I walked in.
Its not very gentlemanly, poking about in a ladys things, I said drylythough honestly, I wasnt all that upset.
Henry didnt bother denying it.
Youre pregnant with Toms child?
I walked over, took my bag, and looked him dead in the eye.
Well, I suppose youve spoiled the surprise, Mr. Jenkins.
He was furious. Now Id never let go of his sonand if he outed me, hed also expose himself. We were all trapped. Silence was all he had left, though it killed him knowing what his son was marrying into.
***
Nine months passed then another six.
Tom and I were raising Alice.
Henry kept away as much as he could. Tried not to think about us, didnt count Alice as his grandchild. I scared himmy indifference to Tom, my past.
And again
Margaret planned to visit us.
Henry, are you coming?
No, Ive a dreadful headache.
Again? This must be serious.
Just tired. Off you go.
Same storyhe always had migraines, colds, sore feet, anything to stay home. He even took a couple of paracetamol to keep up appearances. He just couldnt bear to see me. But outing me wasnt an option either.
The evening dragged by, haunted by unpleasant thoughts.
He lay down. Read a bit.
Suddenly, it was nearly eleven and Margaret still wasnt home. She didnt pick up her phone. Uneasy, Henry rang Tom.
Tom, is everything all right? Has Margaret left? Shes not back yet.
Dad, youre the last person I want to talk to right now.
And hung up
Henry was about to head over himself when a familiar car pulled upmine. Of course, he sensed something was happening, but seeing me there nearly finished him off.
What on earth are you doing here? Tell me! Whats happened?
I was deceptively calm. Poured myself a glass of wine, settled in.
Disaster.
What disaster?
Ours. Together. Tom found photos on a cafés website from a party at The Oasis four years agoremember? Well, Tom was trying to book the place for our anniversary, looked at the site, and there we were. Full display. The photographer, may he rot, put everything up. Now Toms furious. Margarets threatening divorce. And as you wished, looks like Ill be divorcing your son, too.
Henry stared at me, memories swirling: that party, the photos He always had a feeling it would end badly, but never imagined it would come together like this.
He slumped onto the floor beside me.
Why have you come here?
I fancied an escape for the evening, I smiled. Its chaos at home. Alice is with the nanny. Care for a drink?
I offered him his own wine.
So there we sat on the veranda, drinking. Only the hum of summer insects cut the silence, binding us together by nothing else.
Its all your fault, Henry muttered.
I nodded, eyes on my glass.
Yep.
Youre insufferable.
If you say so.
You dont even care about Tom.
I do. But I care for myself more.
You only love yourself.
I dont deny it.
He reached out suddenly, held my chin, made me look at him.
You know I never loved you, he said quietly.
Glad to hear it.
***
In the morning, when Margaret came backready to forgive her husband, even if it cost a few more nervesshe found me and Henry together, still asleep.
Whos there? I stirred.
Its me, said Margaret, as her world crumbled before her.
I just smiled serenely. Henry woke a moment later, but didnt go after his wife.
