Is this what you’re looking for? she stretched out the letter towards him.
Nick turned pale.
Jane, you Dont get the wrong idea Mike Its just
What exactly shouldnt I be thinking, Nick? That my husbands mother is alive and in prison? That you both think Im some clueless wallflower?!
What do you mean a month? Jane, we agreed, at least until autumn!
My youngest has just started nursery, I found a job nearby
Whats happened?
We pay on time, were never noisy
Its not about you Jane hesitated. I need to move back into my own flat.
What for? Youve had a row with your husband?
Please, dont ask any more questions.
Exactly a month from today!
Ill adjust the rent, return your deposit.
Sorry
Jane pressed end call and shivered. She wished she could put an end to all this.
***
Jane couldnt take her eyes off the envelope lying on the kitchen table.
Just an ordinary envelope, which shed fished out of the letterbox moments earlier along with some adverts and the broadband bill.
Mike usually picked up the post, but today, for some reason, she had.
Postmark. The return address: HMP Bronzefield.
And the senders name: Lydia Nicholson.
Jane had heard her husband mention that name a couple of times before Lydia was his mother. His mother-in-law. Someone Jane had never set eyes on.
She hadnt even realised Mikes mother was actually still alive.
I dont have anyone, Jane Mike told her on their third date, warming up in a cheap café after walking through a downpour. My dad left before I was born, never met him.
And mum Mum died when I was twenty. Heart attack. So really, its just me on my own.
Absolutely all alone? Jane had fought back tears of sympathy. No aunts, uncles?
Theres some distant family up in Yorkshire, but were not in touch.
Its simpler, you know? No family dramas, no compulsory Sunday roasts with the in-laws. Just you and me.
Shed thought then:
He must be so strong, after everything
Shed wrapped him in so much care, as if to make up for all the love hed missed out on from his mum.
Then came the wedding, quiet, just close friends and family.
Her side: parents, a couple of mates. On his: only his best childhood friend, Nick, who was oddly silent and wouldnt meet Janes eye.
At the time, shed put it down to shyness. Now she realised Nick was simply terrified hed let something slip.
Wheres she buried, by the way? Jane had asked half a year after the wedding. Maybe we could go and tidy the grave? Shes your mum, after all
Mike had twitched. Looked away and fiddled with his shirt collar.
Far, Jane. Outside town, really. Old cemetery, pretty much closed off now.
Ill go myself, dont trouble yourself. I dont want you there, bad vibes and all.
Lets focus on the living, can we?
And shed believed him. How foolish!
***
The front door opened and Jane jumped, quickly hiding the envelope in the desk drawer and covering it with supermarket coupons.
Hello, love! Mikes voice rang out as cheerily as ever. Hows our champ? Hasnt been causing mischief?
He walked in, trying to kiss the top of her head, but she pulled away instinctively.
Whats up? Tired? he frowned, searching her face. Has Jamie kept you up again?
Come on, Ill get changed and take him for a bit. You go have a rest.
Ill manage dinner.
No, thats not needed. Im not hungry. Mike, the post came today
He froze for a split second, just an instant, but Jane noticed.
Yeah? What was there? Bills again?
Bills. Some adverts. Thats all.
He immediately relaxed and exhaled.
Good! Ill wash my hands and see to Jamie. Missed him, honestly.
Jane watched his back. The man shed built a life with, shared laughs, shared everything, stood there now and lied.
Lied so easily it made her feel sick.
Im basically an orphan, hed said.
Yet a letter from HMP Bronzefield was addressed to Lydia Nicholson.
What was she in for? Manslaughter? Theft? Fraud? And how much longer did she have left?
Jane suddenly pictured, a year or two from now, a woman with hard eyes and a criminal past turning up at their door.
And saying:
Alright, son, alright, Jane. Wheres my grandson? Im moving in with you now!
Jane wasnt worried about herself. It was Jamie she was frightened for.
How will he grow up, with a grandmother fresh out of prison?
How could you let a criminal near a child?
Jane, do you want a cuppa? Mike called from the other room. Anyway, theyve got deals on nappies at Tesco. Found the leaflet. Might nip there tomorrow.
She didnt reply. She was already checking her banking app, glancing at the balance in her personal account.
She should have enough to get started. The flat in another part of London thats good.
The tenants would move out in a month. She just had to last that long and keep her resolve.
***
Mike left for work, kissing Jamie on his chubby cheek, promising hed be back early.
Jane watched this with growing disgust. How could he have lied so brazenly? How can you hide things like this?
Once hed gone, she pulled out the letter. Her hands itched to open it to know but she was afraid.
What if, once shed read it, she couldnt bring herself to leave?
No, she told herself firmly. It doesnt matter whats inside. Hes been lying to me for almost two years!
The doorbell rang. Jane jumped. Who could it be?
Her parents would have called first. Friends? She checked the peephole Nick was hovering outside, looking nervous and glancing at the lifts.
She opened the door.
Nick? Mikes at work.
Yeah, I know, Jane Nick hesitated, shoving his hands in his pockets. Er Just passing by. Thought maybe Mike left the garage keys at home?
He said theyd be on the side in the hall.
Keys? she raised an eyebrow. There arent any keys on the side. Or in the hall. Are you sure he left them?
Thats what he said Listen, Jane, Mike also asked me to pick something up from the letterbox. I checked nothing there. Did you get the post today?
I did. Why?
Nick swallowed.
Just were waiting on a delivery, car parts, Mike said to check in case there was a card.
Jane calmly walked to the kitchen, picked up the grey envelope, and returned to the front door.
Is this what youre after? she held out the letter.
Nick went pale.
Jane, you dont get the wrong idea Mike This is
What shouldnt I get the wrong idea about, Nick? That my husbands mother is alive and in prison? That you both think Im an utter fool?
That Ive had a child with a man whose family history is one massive secret?
Jane, he meant well! Nick burst out, lowering his voice. He wanted a normal life, away from all this.
His mum shes difficult, Jane. Mikes had more than his share of trouble from her.
He wasnt trying to hurt you. He just cut her out so you wouldnt get spooked.
Cut her out? Jane let out a bitter laugh. How do you just erase your mother from your life? And so slyly, at that?
He took away my right to choose. I deserved to know what sort of family I was marrying into.
What family? Nick waved his hands. There isnt a family. Just her and her tricks.
Jane, hand over the letter, will you? You havent read it, have you? Ill pass it to Mike. Hell explain everything.
Leave, Nick, Jane said quietly. And Im not giving you the letter. Its addressed to Mike Nicholson when he gets home, he can have it. From me directly.
She shut the door in his stunned face.
***
The whole day passed in a fog. Jane fed her son, changed him, took him for a walk around the estate, but her mind whirred with thoughts.
What to pack first? The pushchair, Jamies cot, her documents. Furniture Who cares about the furniture?
At her flat in the suburbs there was an old sofa and a wardrobe. That would be enough.
By six oclock, she was calm.
She laid the table, made dinner, put Jamie to bed. And sat down to wait for her husband.
Mmm, smells good! Mike, just home from work, pretended nothing had happened. Look, bought a new mobile for Jamie! Lovely music on it.
Jane sat in silence, with the damning grey envelope in front of her. Mike poked his head in and the act slipped from his face.
Nick found it? he asked quietly.
I did. Nick came on your instructions and tried to take it. But I didnt give it to him.
Mike sank onto the chair opposite.
Why, Mike? Why did you tell me she was dead?
Because, for me, she died twelve years ago, he looked up, eyes glistening. When she first got sent down. Then she got out, stayed free for six months, and went right back inside.
Jane, youre from a decent family. Your dads an engineer, your mums a teacher. You wouldnt even understand her. Shes a professional fraudster. A con artist.
And you thought you had the right to lie to me? For a year? Janes voice cracked. Do you realise that by doing this youve completely destroyed my trust?
I was scared youd leave! Mike shouted back. Youd have said: No way, his mums a criminal, who knows whats in his blood.
I wanted Jamie to have a normal life. Yes, I thought being an orphan was better than being the son of a thief!
And now, Jane said coldly, hell have a father whos divorced.
Mike stopped dead.
What? You cant be serious! Jane, over a letter? Because I hid it?
Because I dont know who you are, Mike. If you could lie like that for years, what else are you hiding?
Whos your father? Maybe he didnt just disappear, maybe hes doing time next door?
Jane, dont be ridiculous
Im not. Ive told the tenants. Im moving back in a month. Tomorrow Im filing for divorce.
Mike begged. He knelt, pleaded with her to change her mind, promised it was just a lie for her own sake.
But Jane had stopped listening. Her mind was made up.
***
The tenants moved out, Jane and her son moved into her own flat. The marriage was over, but Mike hadnt given up hope. He kept asking himself, what did I do so wrong? He really thought he was protecting his family
He saw his son regularly, provided for him fully. But regaining Janes trust was impossible. She had no intention of taking him back.
