Get Out of My Flat! — Said Mum “Out,” Mum said, utterly calm. Arina smirked and leaned back in her chair—she was sure Mum was talking to her friend. “Out of my flat!” Natasha turned to her daughter. “Len, have you seen the post?” her friend practically flew into the kitchen, not bothering to take off her coat. “Arina’s had her baby! Three kilos four hundred, fifty-two centimetres long. Looks just like her dad, same bouncy nose. I’ve already blitzed all the shops, bought so many outfits. Why so glum? “Congratulations, Nat. I’m happy for you,” Lena stood up to pour her friend some tea. “Sit down, at least take your coat off.” “I can’t stay long,” Natasha sat on the edge of the chair. “So much to do. Arina’s such a good girl, does everything herself. Her husband’s a gem, they’ve bought a flat on mortgage, nearly finished the renovations. I’m so proud of my girl. I must’ve done something right in raising her!”

Author Harlan CovingtonReading 10 minViews 1

Out of my flat! said Mum.

Out, Mum said, her voice perfectly calm.

Anne leaned back in her chair and smirked, sure her mother was talking to her friend.

Out of my flat! Natalie turned to her daughter.

Lizzie, did you see the post? The friend all but burst into the kitchen, not even taking her coat off. Annie had her baby! Seven pounds, fifty-two centimetres!

Looks just like the dad, same upturned nose. Ive been to all the shops, bought all sorts of little outfits. Why are you pulling such a face?

Congratulations, Nat. Im happy for you, Liz stood to pour her friend some tea. Sit down, at least take your coat off.

Oh, I havent the time to dawdle, Natalie perched on the edge of the chair. So much to do, so much. Annies wonderful, she does everything herself, never asks for help.

Her husbands a gem, theyve just got a mortgage on a flat, finishing the redecorating. Im so proud of my girl. Raised her right, I did!

Liz quietly put the teacup before her friend. Raised her right… If only Natalie knew…

***

Exactly two years ago, AnneNatalies daughterturned up at Lizs without ringing, eyes puffy with tears, hands shaking.

Aunt Liz, please, just dont tell Mum. I beg you! If she finds out, shell have a heart attack, Anne sobbed, twisting a wet tissue.

Anne, calm down. Tell me properly. What happened? Liz was genuinely worried at the time.

I… at work… One of my colleagues wallets went missing. Five hundred quid.

And the cameras caught me going into the office when no one else was there. But I didnt take it, Aunt Liz! I swear!

But they said: either I hand over the five hundred by lunchtime tomorrow, or they go to the police.

And theres a witness who saw me putting the wallet away.

Its a set-up, Aunt Liz! But whos going to believe me?

Five hundred? Liz frowned. Why not ask your dad?

I did! Anne wailed, fresh tears streaming. He said it was my own stupid fault and wouldnt give me a penny.

He said, Go to the police, let them teach you a lesson.

He didnt even let me in, just shouted through the door.

Aunt Liz, Ive got no one else. Ive saved two hundred, but I need three hundred more.

What about Natalie? Shes your mum.

No! Mum would kill me. Shes always saying I disgrace her, and nowstealing?

Shes a teacher. Everyone knows her.

Please, loan me three hundred? I swear, Ill pay you back two or three dozen every week, Ive already found a new job!

Please, Aunt Liz!

Lizs heart ached for the girl. Twenty years old, life just starting, and now this.

The father wouldnt help, turned his back, the motheryes, shed chew her head off

Who hasnt messed up in life? Liz thought.

Anne kept crying.

All right, she said. Ive got the money. Was saving for my teeth, but theyll have to wait.

Just promise, this is the last time. And I wont say a word to your mum if youre this frightened.

Thank you! Thank you, Aunt Liz, you saved my life! Anne flung her arms round her.

The first week, Anne really brought two dozen quid. She was all smiles, saying its all sorted, no police, new jobs good.

Then then she just stopped replying. One month, two, three. Liz saw her around at Natalies for the holidays, but Anne acted like she barely knew hera cold hello and nothing more.

Liz didnt push. She thought:

Shes young, probably embarrassed, thats all.

She decided three hundred quid wasnt worth ruining years of friendship with Natalie, wrote the debt off, forgot.

***

Are you listening at all? Natalie waved a hand in front of Lizs face. What are you thinking about?

Oh, just… my own things, Liz shook her head.

Listen, Natalie lowered her voice, I bumped into Christine, you know, our old neighbour? She strolled up to me in the shops yesterday. Odd one, her.

Started asking after Annie, whether shed paid back her debts. I didnt quite get what she meant.

I said, Annies independent, earns her own keep. Christine kind of sneered and walked off.

Do you know if Annie ever borrowed from her?

Liz felt dread twist inside.

No idea, Nat. Maybe just something small.

Well, I better get going. Need to pop into Boots, Natalie stood, pecked Liz on the cheek, and hurried out.

That night, Liz couldnt take it anymore. She found Christines number and called.

Chris, hi, its Liz. Did you see Natalie today? What was all that about Annies debts?

A heavy sigh came down the line.

Oh, Liz… I thought you must know. Youre closest with them all.

Two years back, Annie came to me all in a state, crying her eyes out, saying shed been accused of theft at work.

Said it was either pay back three hundred quid or go to prison. Begged me not to tell her mum, sobbing.

Fool that I am, I handed her the money. She promised to return it in a month. Then she vanished

Liz gripped the phone.

Three hundred? Exactly three?

Well, yes. Said thats what she was short. In the end, she gave me twenty back half a year later, then disappeared.

Then I found out, from Vera from round the way, that Annie had tried the same story on her.

And Vera gave her four hundred.

And Mrs. Graham, their old teacher, she said shed rescued Annie from jail as well. She lent fifty.

Wait Liz sat heavily. You mean she asked everyone for the same amount? With the same old story?

Yes, seems so, Christines voice steeled. Shes just taken a tax from every one of her mums friends. Each gets hit for three or four hundred.

Made the theft story up, tugged at our heartstrings. We all love Natalie, so we kept quiet, didnt want to upset her.

And Annie spent it all, by the looks. Month later on Facebook, photos of her swanning about in Ibiza.

I gave her three hundred too, Liz said quietly.

There we are then, Christine snorted. That makes what, five or six of us? At this point, its a blooming business, Liz.

Thats not a youthful mistake, thats out-and-out fraud. And Natalies none the wiser. All proud of her golden girl, while her kids a thief!

Liz hung up. Her head swam. She wasnt sorry for the moneyshed long since kissed it goodbye.

She just felt sick, realising how coldly, how cleverly a twenty-year-old girl had conned all these women by playing on their kindness.

***

The next day, Liz went to Natalies. She didnt plan a sceneshe just wanted to look Anne in the eye.

Anne had just come back from hospital, waiting out the redecorating at her mums place.

Oh, Aunt Liz! Anne forced a smile at her mothers friend. Come in. Tea?

Natalie flapped about at the cooker.

Sit yourself down, Liz. Why didnt you ring?

Liz sat opposite Anne.

Anne, she began calmly, I ran into Christine. And Vera. And Mrs. Graham. We had a right long natter last night. You could say we formed a clubthe rescued victims society.

Anne froze, paled, shot a glance at her mums back.

What dyou mean, Liz? Natalie turned.

Well, Anne knows what I mean, Liz kept her eyes trained on the girl. Remember that nasty business two years back?

When you asked me for three hundred? And Christine for three. And Vera, four. And Mrs. Graham, fifty.

All of us saving you from prison. Each of us believing we were the only holders of your dark secret.

The kettle shook in Natalies hand; the boiling water spat and hissed on the stove.

What do you mean, fifty? Anne? Is she saying you borrowed money from my friends? Even from Mrs. Graham?

Mum its not I Ive paid back well, nearly

No, you havent, Anne, Liz cut in. You gave me twenty as a front, then vanished.

You just pulled together almost two grand from us all with your made-up tale. We kept it quiet out of pity for your mum.

But last night, I realisedpity shouldve been reserved for us.

Anne, look at me. Did you scam money out of my friends? Did you make up that theft, just to bleed people I have round for tea?

Mum, I desperately needed it to move out! Anne shouted. You and Dad never gave me anything! I had to start my life somehow!

So what? Its not like it was their last! Theyve got plenty themselves.

Lizs skin crawled. Well, thats that

Im sorry, Nat, to dump this on you now, but I cant let it go on.

I dont want to reward this sort of behaviour. Shes made absolute fools of us all!

Natalie wavered, hands braced on the table, shoulders trembling.

Out, she said, her voice even.

Anne smirked, flopping back in her chairpositive her mum was talking to Liz.

Get out of my flat! Natalie faced her daughter. Pack your things, go to your husband. I dont want to see you here!

Annes face turned ashen.

Mum, Ive got a baby! I cant be stressed!

You have no mother, Anne. Your mother was the honest girl I thought Id raised. You? Youre a thief.

Mrs. Graham… Oh God, she called me every day, asked after me, never breathed a word… How am I meant to look her in the eye now? How?!

Anne grabbed her bag, hurled a towel to the floor.

Choke on your money! she spat. You old crows! Stuff the both of you!

She dashed to the next room, grabbed the baby, and stormed off.

Natalie sank into a chair, face buried in her hands. Liz felt wretched.

Sorry, Nat

No, Liz… Its me whos sorry. For raising such… scum. I really believed shed made it on her own, and she… God, the shame…

Liz stroked her friends shoulder gently. Natalie fell to sobbing.

***

A week later, Annes husband, pale and all hollow-eyed, called on all the lenders, apologising without ever raising his gaze. He promised to repay the money.

And sure enough, payments started to trickle backfifty for Mrs. Graham, covered by Natalie for her daughter.

Liz didnt feel responsible. The liar deserved punishment. Didnt she?

The Choice “Turns out, Feddy is very much married…” sighed Susan, perched on a park bench with a referral slip for the hospital tightly gripped in her pocket. Her flatmates back at the halls envied her when they saw her with that dashing, clean-shaven, blue-eyed dark-haired gent, thinking she’d hit the jackpot with such a charming man. But, as it turns out, there was nothing to envy. Susan shivered, recalling the first and only time she met Feddy’s wife – who’d waited for her outside the factory gates to set the record straight. “Hello there! You must be Susan!” the woman began. “And you are?” Susan asked, startled and tense from the tall, slim woman’s piercing, ashy-blonde gaze. “I’m Olivia – Feddy Myles’ wife.” “What?” “You heard me!” “Another naïve girl,” Olivia said calmly. “How many of you are out there, chasing after someone else’s happiness?” “How dare you?” “Listen,” Olivia said, gently gripping Susan’s elbow. “You should be asking yourself the same question. I, his legal wife, have seen you with my husband – and now you’re acting haughty instead of apologising or feeling any shame… But maybe that’s not in your nature. He’s had more of your lot than I can count on my fingers and toes. Getting involved with a married man is shameless.” “He’s a man, a hunter, you see? For him, you’re just a brief fling. He’ll move on soon enough. Keep away from him. By the way, we have two daughters – I can show you a family photo.” Olivia produced a cherished snap, handing it to the stunned Susan. “Here. Proof of true love. This was us in Brighton just two months ago…” “Well, what do you want from me? Sort things with your husband yourself.” “Don’t worry, I will! He only started at this factory recently and, lo and behold, then you turn up. Walk away, won’t you? Don’t fall for his promises – Feddy isn’t about to get divorced. Don’t waste your time. What’s your age – thirty?” “Twenty-five,” Susan retorted, wounded. “Even more reason. There’s still plenty of time for you to get married and have a family. Leave Feddy be.” Susan listened no longer. She walked away on shaky legs, her dreams suddenly eclipsed by the arrival of her lover’s wife. “Betrayer…” she muttered, choking back her tears – she wouldn’t let the world see her pain, not on the street and not in front of her workmates. That evening, Feddy showed up at Susan’s with flowers as if nothing had happened. She kicked him out, swollen-eyed, unswayed by his vows of everlasting love and talk of an impending divorce, after his wife’s revelation changed everything. For two weeks, Susan was left reeling. Feddy didn’t pester her again and acted as though he’d never met her, averting his gaze whenever they crossed paths. Misery never comes alone… At first, Susan blamed her morning sickness and dizzy spells on nerves, but soon reality struck – her all-consuming, naive affair with Feddy had left consequences. “Six weeks,” sounded like a sentence. Susan couldn’t bear the thought of being a single mum. She was terrified, convinced everyone else knew – and now she faced their silent judgement for trusting a man she barely knew, who’d hidden his family all along. What could she have done? Ask for ID on the first date? He wore no ring. Some married men don’t. She should have been suspicious when he insisted they keep their relationship secret at work, but love blinded her until his betrayal became the talk of the office, especially after Olivia’s visit. “I’m pregnant,” she finally confided to her former lover at lunch, desperation pushing her forward. “I’ll give you money, but deal with it,” he grunted. Next day, Feddy resigned, vanishing from her life forever. Susan knew she couldn’t delay forever. Ignoring the doctor’s warnings, she took the referral for the ‘operation’ and found herself gripping that slip on a park bench, terrified to let go. “In a hurry?” said a young man in a sharp suit, plopping down beside her with an enormous bouquet of burgundy chrysanthemums. “Sorry?” she looked up with hollow eyes. “Your watch is fast,” he said, nodding at the gold watch on her wrist. “Oh, it’s always ten minutes ahead,” she replied wearily, turning away. “I keep resetting it, but it’s hopeless.” “The weather’s wonderful today, isn’t it? Real Indian summer. My mum loves this time of year. She always says she made the right choice on a day like this – and never once regretted it. You know,” the stranger chattered on, “My mum’s truly something – I owe her everything.” “What about your dad?” Susan found herself asking. “She never talks about him, and I’ve learnt not to ask. She’s better off without him, I think…” “I just came from a job interview actually. Imagine, they picked me out of ten applicants for a top position – and I’ve barely any experience! It still feels unreal. My mum’s the one who gave me the confidence I needed. My first paycheque will get her a holiday by the sea – she’s never been.” “Have you?” “No.” Susan studied the candid lad, noting his burgundy tie. “Gift from mum,” he said proudly, stroking it. “Sorry – I’m rambling. But you seemed so sad, I just wanted to share my joy.” Susan shook her head – he didn’t annoy her at all. In fact, he’d stopped her downward spiral, and his love for his mother was touching. “What devotion!” she thought. “His mum’s so lucky… I wish I had a son like him…” “Well, I’d better be off – my mum’s waiting and worrying. Don’t rush, though!” “Pardon?” “I meant your watch,” he grinned. “Oh,” she smiled softly in return. A minute later, he was gone. Susan tore up her referral slip in tiny pieces and lingered on the bench, breathing in the crisp autumn air, warmth and light finally returning to her heart. She wasn’t alone after all. Some women raise and nurture wonderful sons single-handedly. A pity she hadn’t asked the lad’s name – but it didn’t matter any more. She’d made her choice. *** Twenty-three years later… “Mum, I’m going to be late,” Stan said, standing at the mirror as his mother carefully knotted the new burgundy tie she’d bought him for an important interview. “Maybe forget about the tie…” “It gives confidence, trust me. You’ll be amazing, they’ll definitely hire you!” Susan finished neatening his collar and stepped back to admire her grown boy. “I’m nervous – what if…?” “This job’s meant for you. Just answer their questions clearly and don’t forget to smile. You’ll be irresistible.” “Okay, Mum,” Stan kissed her cheek and hurried out the door. Susan watched him go, her heart swelling as her dearest strode off to catch the bus. Suddenly, a shock ran through her – she’d seen this before… That young man in the park, more than twenty years ago… Stan in his business suit looked just like him now… How had she forgotten that day for so many years? But now, the memory pulsed with life again. Was it really fate, giving her a glimpse of the future she’d almost thrown away? Showing her – literally – the child she might have lost, steering her onto the right path? She never did learn his mother’s name, nor asked his name, but now – it didn’t matter. Everything turned out just as it should. That afternoon, Stan came home beaming, with a huge bunch of burgundy chrysanthemums to match his tie, announcing he’d got the job. He promised they’d finally go to the seaside, since his mum had never been. Now it was time for him to take care of her, and he’d move mountains to make her happy. No matter what life threw at them, Susan always found comfort in her son’s embrace. They survived it all, and her brave choice had given her a life she’d never regret. Just as it was meant to be!

The Choice “Turns out Fred really is well and truly married…” sighed Sue, sitting on a park bench and clutching the hospital referral note deep in her pocket. Her flatmates back at the halls envied her when they saw her with her tall, clean-shaven, blue-eyed, dark-haired companion, thinking she’d lucked out with such a charming gent. But there was nothing to envy, really. Sue shuddered, remembering her first and last meeting with Fred’s wife, who had caught her at the factory gates to spell out how things stood. “Well, hello there! You must be Susan?” she began. “And you are?” Sue tensed under the piercing gaze of the tall, slender woman with ash-blonde hair. “I’m Olivia—Fred Mason’s wife.” “What?” “You heard me!” “Yet another naïve girl,” the woman said calmly. “How many of you are out there—never ending, chasing after someone else’s happiness.” “How dare you?” “Listen,” Olivia gingerly took her rival by the elbow, “how dare you? I’m the legal wife. I saw you with my husband, and you’re still acting up, instead of apologising and feeling some proper shame—although, I suppose that’s something only decent people do, which doesn’t seem to be you. “There have been so many like you, I couldn’t count them all on my fingers and toes. “You’ve tangled with a married man—shameless! He’s a man, a hunter, you know? But to him, you’re just a fleeting adventure. He’ll tire of you before you know it. Best keep your distance. “By the way, we have two daughters—I could show you a family photo.” Olivia pulled out a photograph and handed it to a stunned Sue. “There. Proof of real, honest love. Us in Blackpool, just two months ago… “So? Why are you silent?” “What do you want from me? Sort out your husband yourself.” “Oh, I will—don’t worry! He only started at the factory recently, it pays well, and now, you’ve turned up to make things worse. “Let it go, for your own good. Don’t fall for Fred’s promises—he’s got no intention of getting a divorce. Don’t waste your time. How old are you, thirty?” “Twenty-five!” Sue retorted indignantly. “Well, then. You’ve got time to find someone else and start a family. Leave Fred be.” Sue listened no longer—she stumbled away from Olivia, whose sudden arrival had shattered her happy world and erased her hopeful dreams in a heartbeat. “Traitor…” Sue muttered, a lump in her throat, determined not to let her emotions spill out in public. She didn’t want workplace gossip. That evening, Fred turned up as if nothing had happened, flowers in hand. Crying and red-eyed, Sue threw him out, despite his eternal promises and claims he and his wife hadn’t loved each other for years. For two weeks, Sue recovered in silence. Fred left her alone, behaving at work as though she didn’t exist. But as they say, trouble never comes alone. When Sue started feeling sick in the mornings, she told herself it was stress. Soon, though, she realised her naive, passionate romance with Fred had left consequences. “Six weeks,” the doctor said—a sentence rather than a diagnosis. Sue didn’t want to be a single mum. She was frightened. She felt like everyone was judging her, all because she had trusted a man who turned out to be a stranger. Fred had hidden his marriage. What was she supposed to do, ask for his passport when they first met? He’d worn no wedding ring, though not all married men do. Why didn’t she question it when he said to keep their relationship secret at work? He had tricked her—and knowing she’d been deceived offered no comfort. The office now buzzed with gossip about “the wife’s visit”. “I’m pregnant,” Sue managed to tell her former lover one lunchtime, desperate. “I’ll give you the money—just sort it,” he muttered, and the next day Fred quit and vanished for good. Sue knew she couldn’t delay. Despite every warning from her doctor, she took the hospital referral for “the procedure”. And so, she sat on a bench, clutching that note as if it might vanish. “In a hurry?” asked a young man in a business suit, plopping himself down next to Sue, an enormous bunch of crimson chrysanthemums in his arms. “Sorry?” she replied, her eyes hollow. “Your watch is a bit fast,” he pointed––indicating her gold wristwatch. “My watches are always ten minutes ahead… I try to fix them, but it never works,” she replied, turning away. “Lovely weather though, isn’t it? Real Indian summer! My mum loves this time of year—she says she made her best life decision on a warm autumn day like this, and never regretted it. Did you know—” he bubbled on, a happy stranger, “—my mum’s like that!” He flashed a thumbs-up. “I’m so grateful to her.” “And your dad?” Sue asked before thinking. “Mum never told me about him, and I don’t ask. She doesn’t like talking about him.” Then, with a bright smile: “I just came from an interview—can you believe, they chose me from ten candidates! The only one they picked, even though I’ve hardly got any experience. Feels almost unreal… “It was Mum that gave me confidence. “I already know what I’ll do with my first pay packet—send Mum to the seaside. She’s never seen the sea. Have you?” “No,” Sue replied, curiously watching the cheerful, talkative chap, her eyes catching his burgundy tie. “A present from my mum,” he explained, smoothing the tie with pride. “Sorry if I’m going on—I just had to share my happiness, and you looked so sad… I thought maybe you needed someone to talk to. Am I bothering you?” Sue shook her head silently. Strangely, the stranger didn’t annoy her—he’d managed to halt her cycle of grim thoughts. His devotion to his mother was something she deeply respected. “What loyalty!” she thought, watching him intently. “His mum is so lucky… Wish I could have a son like him someday…” “Well, I’d better go. Mum’s waiting and she’ll worry. But don’t rush—” “What was that?” she asked. “I meant your watch,” he smiled. “Oh.” She smiled back. A moment later, he’d vanished, and Sue, finally releasing her grip on the crumpled hospital note, tore it into tiny pieces. She sat for a long while, breathing in the autumn air, feeling unexpectedly warm and light. She was not alone. Some women raise wonderful sons on their own. Pity she hadn’t asked his name… but perhaps that didn’t matter. The choice was made. *** Twenty-three years later… “Mum, I’m running late!” Stas called from the mirror. Mum was carefully tying his new burgundy tie—for his own big job interview. “You could just go without, you know.” “It’s for confidence, Mum! Trust me, everything’ll be fine. They’ll take me for sure… That’s it!” Susan finished the tie and stepped back to admire her son. “I’m nervous, what if…” “It’s your job, I can feel it. Just answer clearly, remember to smile. You look fantastic.” “Thanks, Mum.” Stas kissed her cheek and hurried out. Susan watched her only son enthusiastically stride towards the bus stop. Suddenly, she froze, jolted as if by electricity… She’d seen this all before. That lad in the park, more than twenty years ago… Her Stas, suited up, looked just like him. How could she have forgotten that day for so long? Now it all came alive in her memory. Was it fate, she wondered, letting her see with her own eyes whom she almost let go—(such a horrible word)—giving her the chance to make the right choice, guiding her down the right path? Why hadn’t she asked his name, since they were about the same age, or his mother’s name? But now, maybe that didn’t matter. Everything turned out wonderfully. After lunch, Stas came home with an armful of burgundy chrysanthemums—the shade of his tie—and told Susan he’d got the job. He promised they’d finally go to the seaside together. She’d never seen the sea, after all. Now it was time for him to look after the mum he loved more than anything. He would move mountains, turn rivers for her—such was Susan’s son. Whatever life had thrown at them, Susan had never, ever regretted having him. She had made the right choice. And so it was meant to be.